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explicitly

 - 3 dictionary results

ex⋅plic⋅it

[ik-splis-it]
–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


ex⋅plic⋅it⋅ly, adverb
ex⋅plic⋅it⋅ness, noun


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


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.

  1. 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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