different between explication vs elucidation

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French explication, from Latin explicatio, explicationem.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

explication (countable and uncountable, plural explications)

1. The act of opening or unfolding.
2. (dated or formal) The act of explaining; an explanation.
3. The sense given by an expositor.

Related terms

• explicate
• explicator
• explicit

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin explicatio, explicationem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k.spli.ka.sj??/

Noun

explication f (plural explications)

1. explanation

Related terms

• expliquer

Further reading

• “explication” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??lu.s??de?.??n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

elucidation (countable and uncountable, plural elucidations)

1. A making clear; the act of elucidating or that which elucidates, as an explanation, an exposition, an illustration
   • 6 December 2016, Christopher Hooton writing in The Independent, Westworld: Ed Harris doesn’t have a clue what’s going on either

     The finale might not provide much elucidation, a feature-length instalment that bombarded the viewer with information.

   • 1912, Percy Brown, Picturesque Nepal

     At a time like the present when Eastern æsthetics are attracting the attention of scholars in all quarters, and particularly when the great field of Buddhist art is coming more into focus, a view of a little-known aspect of this subject may perhaps be the humble means of assisting in the elucidation of some of the complex problems with which this study is surrounded.

   • 1798, Thomas Malthus. An Essay on the Principle of Population

     The essay might, undoubtedly, have been rendered much more complete by a collection of a greater number of facts in elucidation of the general argument.

Translations