explanatory

Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“I flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“I flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced native Middle English arecchen, irecchen (“to explain, expound”) (from Old English āreccan, ġereccan).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪkˈsplanət(ə)ɹi/, /ɛkˈsplanət(ə)ɹi/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪkˈsplanətɔːɹi/, /ɛkˈsplanətɔːɹi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

explanatory (comparative more explanatory, superlative most explanatory)

1. Intended to serve as an explanation.

   Below the diagram is an explanatory text.

2. (of a person) Disposed to explain.