[f. late L. ēlūcidāt- ppl. stem of ēlūcidā-re, f. ē out + lūcidus bright.] trans. To render lucid; now only fig. to throw light upon, clear up, explain. Also absol.
c. 1568. Coverdale, Lett., Wks. II. 492. Such annotations … elucidate and clear [the text].
1675. Baxter, Cath. Theol., II. V. 88. Let me hear what your own conceptions are of the matter, if they tend to elucidate or reconcile.
1676. Bullokar, Elucidate, to make bright or shining.
1685. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), II. 256. This … was made out of human blood and urine, elucidating the vital flame, or heat, in animal bodies.
1748. J. Mason, Elocut., 29. The great End of Pronunciation is to elucidate and heighten the Sense.
1789. Gibbon, Autobiog. (1854), 85. Sir William Hamilton … has elucidated a country of such inestimable value to the naturalist.
1804. Wellington, Lett., in Gurw., Disp., III. 127. I mention these circumstances only because they tend to elucidate the foreign policy of this Prince.
1825. Macaulay, Milton, Ess. (1851), I. 1. His notes have the rare merit of really elucidating the text.
1840. Mill, Diss. & Disc. (1873), I. 408. This language … serves not to elucidate.
1872. Darwin, Emotions, Introd. 5. Elucidating the physiology of the muscles of the hand.
