educe
Americanverb (used with object)
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to draw forth or bring out, as something potential or latent; elicit; develop.
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to infer or deduce.
verb
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to evolve or develop, esp from a latent or potential state
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to draw out or elicit (information, solutions, etc)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of educe
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin ēdūcere, equivalent to ē- e- 1 + dūcere to lead
Explanation
When you educe you first see the potential in something and then develop it. An artist sketching on scratch paper might later educe a painting from the casual sketches. Educe can also be used as a synonym for deduce, meaning "to reach a conclusion." Suppose members of a jury have to decide whether someone is guilty of stealing. They use the facts in the case to educe the thief's motivation. Educe comes from the Latin word ducere, meaning "lead." Think of educe as leading to something else.
Vocabulary lists containing educe
Lead the Way: Duc and Duct
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Stories of Ourselves
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The Left Hand of Darkness
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Educe, ē-dūs′, v.t. to draw out: to extract: to cause to appear.—n. inference.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
