Also 7 exp-, exspaciate, 6–8 exspatiate. [f. L. ex(s)patiāt- ppl. stem of ex(s)patiārī, f. ex- (see EX- pref.1) + spatiārī to walk about, f. spatium space.]
1. intr. To walk about at large, to roam without restraint; to move about freely in space, wander at will. Now somewhat rare in lit. sense.
1538. Leland, Itin., I. p. xxi. I have more exspatiatid yn this Campe then they did.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 429. Wherein this ætheriall body might expatiate and disport it selfe.
1657. S. Purchas, Pol. Flying-Ins., 16. They will expatiate and dance the Hay in circling motions.
a. 1760. J. H. Browne, Design & Beauty, Poems (1768), 102. He not content the shallow shore to keep Dauntless expatiates in the boundless deep.
1765. Gray, Lett., in Poems (1775), 308. You will … catch the breezes on the coast of Taranto … expatiate to the very toe of the continent.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 258. Workmen … by expatiating from Europe, have improved their condition.
1849. Blackw. Mag., LXV. 236. He … has it in his power to expatiate where he will.
1864. Lowell, Biglow P., Poet. Wks. (1879), 275/2. Winter-flies … crawl out … to expatiate in the sun.
1875. Hamerton, Intell. Life, XII. i. (1876), 435. Points upon which the cattle expatiate.
b. Said of the eye, or hand.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 20. In this Cephalical compression to the sides, the Eyes more freely expatiate to the back-parts.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 412, ¶ 2. Where the Eye has Room to range abroad, to expatiate at large on the Immensity of its Views.
1836–7. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., xxxii. (1859), II. 251. The hand of a skilful musician expatiates over the keys of the most complex organ.
c. fig.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., II. Notes 37. So farre haue the indigested reports of barren and Monkish inuention expatiated out of the lists of Truth.
1650–3. trans. Hales’ Dissert. de Pace, in Phenix (1708), II. 373. Ambition finds not room enough for her swelling to expatiate in.
1697. J. Sergeant, Solid Philos., 321. But I expatiate too much into the Subject of Predication.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, vii. Without farther expatiating from the subject.
1787. Bonnycastle, Astron., vi. 84. The flighty imagination of those, who … expatiated in the wilds of fiction.
1849. Robertson, Serm., Ser. I. ii. (1866), 35. We … expatiate into that which is infinite.
† d. trans. (Cf. to walk the road.) Obs. rare.
1627. J. Carter, Expos. Serm. on Mount, 109. The vngodly … enter in a-brest at the broad gates, and expatiate all the fields, and countrie ouer.
2. To speak or write at some length; to enlarge; to be copious in description or discussion. Const. on, upon. Also in indirect passive.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., I. Notes 18. But you blame me thus expatiating.
1655. Cromwell, Sp., 22 Jan. (Carlyle). I could not say more upon this subject if I listed to expatiate thereupon.
1721. Berkeley, Prevent. Ruin Gt. Brit., Wks. III. 207. Ancient orators used to expatiate in praise of their country.
1793. Beddoes, Math. Evid., 14. Frequently as the topic is expatiated upon.
1817. Chalmers, Astron. Disc., i. (1852), 17. Those who expatiate with delight on the wonders and the sublimities of creation.
1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), I. Pref. 7. The remarkable deficiency of our recent literature … has constantly tempted me to expatiate.
† 3. trans. To enlarge, extend, expand (territory, etc.); to spread abroad (glory, shame); to exalt, magnify; to spread wide (the arms). Obs.
1603. Patient Grissil (Shaks. Soc.), 22. Sir Owen, and signors both, do not expatiate my obloquy.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter ii. 4. 519. Princes expatiate their dominions.
1660. Waterhouse, Arms & Arm., 6. The symmetry and exact order of which … expatiated the glory of their valor almost thorowout the Continent. Ibid., 125–6. A benign umbrage expatiates little spires of grass into the magnitude of Lawrels.
1668. Davenant, Rivals, II. 17. I would expatiate my Wanton arms.
1677. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 4), 189. Where after a little space the channel is well-nigh expatiated so broad as the Thames at London.
† b. refl. and intr. for refl. Obs.
1620–55. I. Jones, Stone-Heng (1725), 34. Salisbury Plain … expatiates it self through the Middle of Wiltshire.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. iv. 107. Jordan … expatiateth it self into the waters of Merom.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. vi. 98. It [the Crown-vein] … Expatiates in a large tract from the right Eare.
1681. H. More, Expos. Daniel, App. ii. 287. This dead condition … is not to expatiate unto 1260 days.
1738. Common Sense (1739), II. 48. The Stock of Wealth a Nation possesses must expatiate, or it is of no Benefit to the Publick.
† c. ‘To let loose, to allow to range’ (J.). refl. only; = 1 b. and 2. Obs.
1659. O. Walker, Instruct. Oratory, 10. The best way therefore is, to give it [the Wit] leave to expatiate it self in its work.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1675), 21. The thoughts being licens’d to expatiate themselves.
1683. Cave, Ecclesiastici, Greg. Naz., 296. [Nazianzen] welcom’d his Arrival with an Oration, wherein he expatiated himself in his praises for the Nobility of his birth.
1695. Dryden, trans. Du Fresnoy’s Painting, § 70. A Subject which shall … afford … Art an ample field of matter wherein to expatiate it self.
d. nonce-use. To develop (views).
1859. C. Barker, Assoc. Princ., i. 8. Mr. Carlyle expatiating from its text his peculiar views of … political economy.
Hence † Expatiated ppl. a., widespread; cf. sense 3 of vb. Expatiater (also expatiator), one who expatiates. Expatiating vbl. sb., the action of the vb. EXPATIATE; in quot. expansion; cf. sense 3 b of vb. Expatiating ppl. a., that expatiates; whence Expatiatingly adv.
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Vocab., Expatiated,… enlarged.
1713. C’tess Winchilsea, Misc. Poems, 62–3. Th’ expatiated Downs Shall wider Scenes display of rural Glee.
a. 1766. Pegge, Anonym., v. (1809), 201. The person, intended … as an Expatiator on the word Endovellicus.
1839. New Monthly Mag., LVII. 160. Such is the mind of our expatiater upon flowers [etc.].
1717. J. Keill, Anim. Oecon. (1738), 131. There was no more room for the division and expatiating of the Vessels.
1789. Trifler, xxxv. 456. An expatiating and florid diffusion would … weaken and dissolve their close and well-compacted strength.
1692. Beverley, Disc. Dr. Crisp, 16. Why may not the most expatiating Expressions be used in so good a Sense…?
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Dec., 11/1. A pleasant space into which to turn loose some … expatiating gossiper to talk of what so seemeth him best.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), III. xxi. 131. What a folly then to be so expatiatingly sincere.
