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expatiate

verb ex·pa·ti·ate \ ek-ˈspā-shē-ˌāt \

Definition of expatiate

expatiated; -ating
intransitive verb
1 :to move about freely or at will :wander
2 :to speak or write at length or in detail
  • expatiating upon the value of the fabric
  • —Thomas Hardy
—

expatiation

play \(ˌ)ek-ˌspā-shē-ˈā-shən\ noun

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Examples of expatiate in a Sentence

  1. the naturalist is known for her willingness to expatiate on any number of issues relating to wildlife and the environment

Recent Examples of expatiate from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expatiate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The Latin antecedent of "expatiate" is "exspatiari," which combines the prefix ex- ("out of") with "spatiari" ("to take a walk"), itself from "spatium" ("space" or "course"). Exspatiari means "to wander from a course" and, in the figurative sense, "to digress." But when English speakers began using "expatiate" in 1538, we took "wander" as simply "to move about freely." In a similar digression from the original Latin, we began using "expatiate" in a figurative sense of "to speak at length." That's the sense of the word most often used these days, usually in combination with "on" or "upon."

Origin and Etymology of expatiate

Latin exspatiatus, past participle of exspatiari to wander, digress, from ex- + spatium space, course

expatiate Synonyms

Synonyms
declaim, descant, discourse, talk, harangue, lecture, orate, speak
Related Words
recite, soliloquize; dissert, expound, pontificate, sermonize; mouth, spout; filibuster

EXPATIATE Defined for English Language Learners

expatiate

verb

Definition of expatiate for English Language Learners

  • : to speak or write about something in a way that includes a lot of details or uses many words

Learn More about expatiate

  1. See words that rhyme with expatiate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for expatiate

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Examples: expatiate in a Sentence
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