different between explain vs divulge

English

Etymology

From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explan? (“I flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + plan? (“I flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English ?ere??an.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?sple?n/, /?k?sple?n/
• Rhymes: -e?n

Verb

explain (third-person singular simple present explains, present participle explaining, simple past and past participle explained)

1. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
2. To give a valid excuse for past behavior.
3. (obsolete) To make flat, smooth out.
4. (obsolete) To unfold or make visible.
   • April 14, 1684, John Evelyn, a letter sent to the Royal Society concerning the damage done to his gardens by the preceding winter

     The horse-chestnut is […] ready to explain its leaf.

5. (intransitive) To make something plain or intelligible.

Synonyms

• (give a sufficiently detailed report): expound, elaborate, recce

Derived terms

• afore-explained
• explain away
• explainer
• mansplain
• please explain
• -splain

Related terms

• explanation
• explanatory

Translations

Further reading

• explain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• explain in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• explain at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

Latin divulgare, from di- (“widely”) + vulgare (“publish”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /da??v?ld?/, /d??v?ld?/

Verb

divulge (third-person singular simple present divulges, present participle divulging, simple past and past participle divulged)

1. (transitive) To make public or known; to communicate to the public; to tell (information, especially a secret) so that it may become generally known
   • 2016, December 8, The Economist, The president-elect's EPA head may not believe in climate change

     In an interview with The Economist last year, he insisted his attack on the CPP had nothing to do with his views on global warming, which he would not divulge.

   • 1910, Stephen Leacock, Literary Lapses, "How to Avoid Getting Married"

     Here then is a letter from a young man whose name I must not reveal, but whom I will designate as D. F., and whose address I must not divulge, but will simply indicate as Q. Street, West.

   Synonym: disclose

2. To indicate publicly; to proclaim.

Synonyms

• bewray, bring out, uncover, disclose, discover, expose, give away, impart, let on, let out, reveal; see also Thesaurus:divulge

Related terms

• divulgation
• divulgement

Translations