v. Also 6 enucleat. [f. L. ēnucleāt- ppl. stem of ēnucleāre to remove the kernel of, f. ē out + nucleus kernel. The fig. sense, till modern times the exclusive one in Eng., was fully developed in Lat.]
1. fig. To extract the ‘kernel’ from; to bring out from disguise; to lay open, clear, explain.
1548. Hall, Chron. (1809), 407. Thinkyng that he would enucleate and open to her all these thinges.
1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, III. 896. All obscure probleme … ȝe can … Enucleat.
1622. Ailesbury, Serm. (1623), 19. We sweat to enucleate the mystery.
1774. T. West, Antiq. Furness (1805), 37. No inscription … that can serve to enucleate its original name.
1787. Schwartz, in Phil. Trans., LXXVII. 359. To enucleate the family relation of this hitherto unknown vegetable.
1846. Landor, Exam. Shaks., Wks. II. 272. To enucleate and bring into light their abstruse wisdom.
1859. Sat. Rev., 3 Sept., 284/1. Enucleating the sense which underlies a difficult construction.
2. Surg. To extract (a tumor, etc.) from its shell or capsule. Also absol.
1878. A. M. Hamilton, Nerv. Dis., 196. They are easily enucleated.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 115. To remove them it is only necessary to divide their capsule and the soft parts covering them in and to enucleate.
1887. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 17 Dec., 1359/1. Dr. Keith’s success in enucleating uterine tumours.
Hence Enucleating ppl. a.
1862. Lowell, Biglow P., Ser. II. 92. Runick inscriptions … offer peculiar temptations to enucleating sagacity.
