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• 'splain
  'splain

  verb (used with or without object)

  a shortened form of explain.
• -splain
  -splain

  a combining form extracted from mansplain and meaning “to explain or comment on something in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, from the perspective of the group one identifies with,” as in

'splain

¹ American  

[spleyn] / spleɪn /

Or splain

verb (used with or without object)

Informal.

1. a shortened form of explain.

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-splain ² American  

1. a combining form extracted from mansplain and meaning “to explain or comment on something in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, from the perspective of the group one identifies with,” as in

   racism being whitesplained to a person of color.

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Usage

What does -splain mean? The combining form -splain is used like a suffix meaning “to explain or comment on something in a condescending or overconfident manner.” It is occasionally used in slang terms. In most instances, the first element of the word describes the perspective of the "explainer," e.g., mansplain. The form -splain comes from the word mansplain, meaning “to explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, typically to a woman already knowledgeable about the topic.” The form -splain in this sense is extracted from explain.

Etymology

Origin of 'splain

By shortening and alteration of explain

Example Sentences

“Somebody needs to ‘splain to people how hard it is to make a muon collider.”

From Science Magazine • Dec. 8, 2023

Evans wanted to ’splain himself in secret before his colleagues cast a public vote, probably next week.

From Washington Post • Mar. 15, 2019

“Mrs. Dowdel, let me ’splain something to you,” the sheriff bawled.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

I not kin ’splain rightly—but I say to ’er one day, when I’d got my courage screwed up, ‘Sooz’n,’ ses I. ‘Well,’ ses she.

From The Rover of the Andes A Tale of Adventure on South America by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

“It’s ’cos they’re both so perfect,” thought Sibyl, “but it’s hard on me not to be able to ’splain things.

From Daddy's Girl by Meade, L. T.