explication French · revision 38593

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1321–1323, Geoffroy de Picquigny, Bible|origins=la explicō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɛk.spli.ka.sjɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''explication''' ''f'' (plural explications)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|explicātiō|t=a setting out clearly]],^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Littré 1873) a noun of action formed on [[m|la|explicātum]], the supine of [[m|la|explicō|t=to unfold, explain]], the source of [[expliquer]].^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) The Latin noun meant first “unfolding, unrolling”, then “clear presentation”.^(GLLF 1989) Its meanings in French developed alongside those of the verb.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first recorded in 1321–1323, in Geoffroy de Picquigny's translation of the Bible, as a statement that makes something understood.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the sense of an exposition that makes a text or a thing clear, the word came to name what accounts for someone's behaviour (1672, Molière) and what accounts for a fact, its cause (1690, Furetière).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) By extension it then named a discussion in which someone is asked to account for his conduct, as in Stendhal's ''entrer en explication avec quelqu'un'' (1827), now out of use.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ In schools ''explication'' is the close reading and translation of an ancient author, and ''explication de texte'' the literary, stylistic and historical commentary of a French text.^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1321–1323 – First record, in Geoffroy de Picquigny's Bible.^(TLFi)

+ * 1672 – Molière uses it for what accounts for someone's conduct.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1690 – Furetière records it for the cause of a fact.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1827 – Stendhal writes ''entrer en explication avec quelqu'un''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|explanation]]: a statement or account meant to make something understood; a [[m|en|commentary]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(education)'' ''Explication de texte'': the close [[m|en|analysis]] of a literary, philosophical or other text.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # What accounts for a fact; its cause or reason.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A justification of one's conduct, and a frank discussion in which one is asked for it: ''avoir une explication avec quelqu'un''.^(Littré 1873)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[expliquer]]

+ * [[explicatif]]

+ * [[explicable]]

+ * [[la|explicō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}