to expatiate
1
9.9
- verb
- /ɪkˈspeɪʃiˌeɪt/
- Formal
:
explayarse
- During the lecture, the professor expatiated on the key themes of the novel, captivating the entire class.
Examples
-
All their lives, these wretched creatures attend meetings where speakers expatiate on the imaginary deity.
Fiction book (2002) -
Another student expatiated proudly about the great black cultures that predated and surpassed European civilization, chiefly that of classical Egypt.
Academic text (1999) -
As we talked side by side, she expatiated on what she called the "latest episode" in "As the Coal-Camp Turns."
Academic text (1992) -
There is no need to expatiate upon the similar function that sexual indulgence performs in Huxley's Brave New World.
Academic text (1999) -
In this interview with Africa Renewal, UNICEF's representative in Burundi, Johannes Wedenig, expatiates on the government's positive role.
Blog text (17) -
Teresa expatiated on the differences between the Crow sweat bath and what she'd read of Cree, Salish, and others' practices.
Fiction book (1996) -
I waited for her to resume, hoping that she might expatiate on what she meant by having suggested that even in discussions of what dead white European males said on a given topic, it was inappropriate to confine oneself to what they said while leaving out the work of living African American, Arab, and Indian writers.
Academic text (1991) -
Romney has surrounded himself with neo-con advisors, and wherever there's a microphone or an Internet connection, the neo-cons expatiate on the differences between their policy and mainstream U.S. foreign policy under the Democrats.
Blog text (10) -
So the curriculum is very particular, and to expatiate on the joys of learning—how wonderful it is to make sense of things in general—would answer no urgent question for beginners in the university adventure.
Academic text (1998) -
In her blog post, she expatiated on the importance of sustainable living and shared practical tips for readers.
Synonyms
225
3.5
To add more details to explain something better
79
3.5
To explain something clearly and in detail
79
4.2
To give more details or explain something more fully
20
7.3
Explain something in detail so people understand it
15
4.0
To add more details to an idea, plan, or argument
12
3.7
To talk or write about something in more detail
3
7.4
To explain something clearly in detail
2
7.5
To talk or write for a long time about a subject
1
7.8
To speak or write for a long time about a topic
1
6.1
To talk or write for a long time using many words when it is not needed
To talk for a long time about a subject in detail
To explain an idea or meaning in detail
To write long, detailed pieces about difficult ideas
Antonyms
How Long
- Informal
48
5.3
- Formal
1
9.9
79
4.2
∞
1.6
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
expatiate = ex + pati + ate
A learned Latinate formation whose components (ex- + pati + -ate) are not productive or recognizable to average learners, so the meaning 'speak at length' cannot be derived from the parts.
Etymology
Expatiate comes from Latin parts ex- ('out') and spatium ('space'), the same root as English space. It originally meant to 'walk out' or 'move around', so today to expatiate means to 'go into' a subject and speak or write in detail.