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explicit

 - 4 dictionary results

ex⋅plic⋅it

  [ik-splis-it]
Use explicit in a Sentence
–adjective
1. fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied; unequivocal: explicit instructions; an explicit act of violence; explicit language.
2. clearly developed or formulated: explicit knowledge; explicit belief.
3. definite and unreserved in expression; outspoken: He was quite explicit as to what he expected us to do for him.
4. described or shown in realistic detail: explicit sexual scenes.
5. having sexual acts or nudity clearly depicted: explicit movies; explicit books.
6. Mathematics. (of a function) having the dependent variable expressed directly in terms of the independent variables, as y = 3x + 4. Compare implicit (def. 4).
Origin:
1605–15; < L explicitus unfolded, set forth, var. ptp. of explicāre. See explicate

Related forms:
ex⋅plic⋅it⋅ly, adverb
ex⋅plic⋅it⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. express, definite, precise, exact, unambiguous. 3. open, forthright, unabashed.

Antonyms:
1. indefinite, ambiguous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ex·plic·it   (ĭk-splĭs'ĭt)   
adj.  

    1. Fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied.

    2. Fully and clearly defined or formulated: "generalizations that are powerful, precise, and explicit" (Frederick Turner).

    3. Readily observable: an explicit sign of trouble.

    4. Describing or portraying nudity or sexual activity in graphic detail.

  2. Forthright and unreserved in expression: They were explicit in their criticism.

    1. Readily observable: an explicit sign of trouble.

    2. Describing or portraying nudity or sexual activity in graphic detail.


[Latin explicitus, past participle of explicāre, to unfold; see explicate.]
ex·plic'it·ly adv., ex·plic'it·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean entirely clear and unambiguous: explicit statements; a categorical refusal; a definite answer; my express wishes; a specific purpose.
Antonym: ambiguous
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

explicit 
1609, from Fr. explicite, from L. explicitus, variant pp. of explicare "unfold, unravel, explain," from ex- "out" + plicare "to fold" see ply (v.)). "Explicitus" was written at the end of medieval books, originally short for explicitus est liber "the book is unrolled." As a euphemism for "pornographic" it dates from 1971.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

explicit

in bookmaking, a device added to the end of some manuscripts and incunabula by the author or scribe and providing such information as the title of the work and the name or initials of its author or scribe. Explicits were soon incorporated into or completely replaced by the colophon, which included information about the printer, printing materials, and typeface, and, often, the printer's emblem

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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