Main Entry:

clar·i·fy

Pronunciation:

\ˈkler-ə-ˌfī, ˈkla-rə-\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

clar·i·fied; clar·i·fy·ing

Etymology:

Middle English clarifien, from Anglo-French clarifier, from Late Latin clarificare, from Latin clarus clear — more at clear

Date:

14th century

transitive verb 1 : to make (as a liquid) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter 2 : to free of confusion <needs time to clarify his thoughts> 3 : to make understandable <clarify a subject> intransitive verb : to become clear

— clar·i·fi·ca·tion \ˌkler-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən, ˌkla-rə-\ noun

— clar·i·fi·er \ˈkler-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r, ˈkla-rə-\ noun