To separate, disentangle, or resolve something complicated into its component parts.
From Latin 'exsolvere' (ex- 'out' + solvere 'to untie'), this verb has been used since the 1600s primarily in academic and medical writing to describe the act of breaking down complex systems.
When scholars 'exolve' a difficult text, they're doing exactly what detectives do with a tangled case—carefully separating the threads until the whole picture becomes clear. It's a rare word that captures the satisfaction of untangling something confusing.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.