Expatiate

/ɪkˈspeɪʃieɪt/ verb

Definition

To speak or write at length about something; to elaborate or expand on a topic in detail.

Etymology

From Latin 'exspatiari' (to wander about), composed of 'ex-' (out) and 'spatiari' (to walk, from 'spatium', space). The meaning shifted from literal wandering to metaphorical wandering through ideas and topics.

Kelly Says

When someone expatriates, they're literally taking a 'walk' through a topic—they wander from point to point, exploring different corners. The word perfectly captures what happens in a good lecture or essay: the speaker stretches out and roams freely through a subject rather than taking the shortest path.

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