explicit
/ɪkˈsplɪs.ɪt/ adjective, noun, phrase
Forms explicits
- adjective Very specific, clear, or detailed. “I gave explicit instructions for him to stay here, but he followed me, anyway.”
- adjective (euphemistic) Containing material (e.g. language or film footage) that might be deemed offensive or graphic through clear and direct expressions. “The film had several scenes including explicit language and sex.”
- noun The final few words of a text.
- phrase (obsolete) Used at the conclusion of a book to indicate the end.
Synonyms
express manifest overt raunchy clear direct monosemic monosemous patent plain specific unambiguous unequivocal univocal expressed denotative
Antonyms
implicit unexplicit vague circumspect ambiguous equivocal implied polysemous polysemic incipit
Etymology
Borrowed from French explicite, from Latin explicitus (“disentangled, easy”), variant of explicātus.
Abbreviated from Latin explicitus est liber (“the book is set in order, ended”).
Webster’s 1913
- A word formerly used (as finis is now) at the conclusion of a book to indicate the end.
- adjective Not implied merely, or conveyed by implication; distinctly stated; plain in language; open to the understanding; clear; not obscure or ambiguous; express; unequivocal; as, an explicit declaration.
- adjective Having no disguised meaning or reservation; unreserved; outspoken; --applied to persons; as, he was earnest and explicit in his statement. Explicit function. (Math.) See under Function.
Etymology [LL., an abbreviation of explicitus (est liber) the book (which anciently was a roll of parchment) is unfolded (and, of course, "finished"). See Explicit, a.]
Etymology [L. explicitus; p.p. of explicare to unfold: cf. F. explicite. See Explicate, Exploit.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “explicit”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details