expatiate

[ ik-spey-shee-eyt ]
See synonyms for: expatiateexpatiation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),ex·pa·ti·at·ed, ex·pa·ti·at·ing.
  1. to enlarge in discourse or writing; be copious in description or discussion: to expatiate upon a theme.

  2. Archaic. to move or wander about intellectually, imaginatively, etc., without restraint.

Origin of expatiate

1
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin expatiātus, past participle of ex(s)patiārī “to wander, digress,” equivalent to ex- “from, out of, beyond” + spatiārī “to walk about,” derivative of spatium “area, space, playing field, racetrack”; see -ate1

Other words from expatiate

  • ex·pa·ti·a·tion, noun
  • ex·pa·ti·a·tor, noun

Words Nearby expatiate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use expatiate in a sentence

  • Mourdock was not the only Republican candidate to expatiate on the subject of rape.

  • In the East, imagination is at liberty to expatiate on past grandeur, wisdom, and politeness.

  • As to the comparison between the two ladies, I will expatiate more on that subject, (for I like it,) when I have had them both.

    Clarissa, Volume 6 (of 9) | Samuel Richardson
  • Mrs. Evelyn let John expatiate on her daughter's heroism till steps were heard approaching, and his aunt knocked at the door.

    Magnum Bonum | Charlotte M. Yonge
  • But we must not expatiate on its effects; we must only give a little attention to the means by which they are achieved.

    The English Novel | George Saintsbury
  • I'll warrant ye, the Sergeant no' troubled himself to expatiate on the renown of the country where his regiment was raised?

    The Pathfinder | James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for expatiate

expatiate

/ (ɪkˈspeɪʃɪˌeɪt) /


verb(intr)
  1. (foll by on or upon) to enlarge (on a theme, topic, etc) at length or in detail; elaborate (on)

  2. rare to wander about

Origin of expatiate

1
C16: from Latin exspatiārī to digress, from spatiārī to walk about

Derived forms of expatiate

  • expatiation, noun
  • expatiator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012