explain+away
11explain away — transitive verb Date: 1704 1. to get rid of by or as if by explanation 2. to minimize the significance of by or as if by explanation < explains his faults, but does not try to explain them away M. K. Spears > …
12explain away — (Roget s Thesaurus II) I verb To conceal or make light of a fault or offense: extenuate, gloss over, gloze (over), palliate, sleek over, whitewash. See SHOW. II verb See EXPLAIN …
13To explain away — Explain Ex*plain ([e^]ks*pl[=a]n ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Explained}([e^]ks*pl[=a]nd ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Explaining}.] [L. explandare to flatten, spread out, explain; ex out + plandare to make level or plain, planus plain: cf. OF. esplaner,… …
14explain away — make clear, elucidate, clarify, justify, excuse …
15Explain — Ex*plain ([e^]ks*pl[=a]n ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Explained}([e^]ks*pl[=a]nd ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Explaining}.] [L. explandare to flatten, spread out, explain; ex out + plandare to make level or plain, planus plain: cf. OF. esplaner, explaner. See… …
16explain — [ek splān′, iksplān′] vt. [ME explanen < L explanare, to flatten < ex , out + planare, to make level < planus, level (see PLANE2): sp. infl. by PLAIN1] 1. to make clear, plain, or understandable 2. to give the meaning or interpretation… …
17explain — ► VERB 1) make clear by giving a detailed description. 2) give a reason or justification for. 3) (explain oneself) excuse or justify one s motives or conduct. 4) (explain away) minimize the significance of (something awkward) by giving an excuse… …
18explain — ex|plain W1S1 [ıkˈspleın] v [I and T] [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: explanare to make level, unfold , from planus level, flat ] 1.) to tell someone about something in a way that is clear or easy to understand ▪ Our lawyer carefully explained …
19explain — explainable, adj. explainer, explanator /ek spleuh nay teuhr/, n. /ik splayn /, v.t. 1. to make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible: to explain an obscure point. 2. to make known in detail: to explain how to do something. 3. to… …
20explain — /Ik spleIn/ verb (I, T) 1 to make something clear or easy to understand: Our lawyer carefully explained the procedure. | explain (to sb) why/how/where etc: The librarian will explain how to use the catalogue system. | explain that: I explained… …
