able to explode; likely to cause sudden violence; dramatically expanding
From Latin 'explosus', past participle of 'explodere' meaning 'to drive out by clapping', from 'ex-' (out) + 'plaudere' (to clap)
Explosive originally meant 'to drive out by clapping' - Roman audiences literally clapped bad actors off the stage, which evolved into our modern meaning of sudden, violent expansion!
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