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
-
to draw out or elicit (information, solutions, etc)
Other Word Forms
- educible adjective
- eductive adjective
- uneduced adjective
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.
Every song in her discographical universe matters, and any surprise song she chooses will invariably educe outpourings of jubilation.
From Salon • Oct. 13, 2023
Every song in her discographical universe matters, and any surprise song she chooses will invariably educe outpourings of jubilation.
From Salon • Oct. 13, 2023
I think that there should’ve been more discussion of what we educe from his philosophy about these issues of privacy and personal liberty that appear discussed at length in his book.
From Slate • Mar. 28, 2017
He spreads them out, classifies them; then pores, probes, weighs, analyzes, to educe both a composite picture of the author and a meticulous evaluation of the cumulus itself.
From Time Magazine Archive
It is impossible to educe from the chaos of those times any established principles.
From The Empire of Russia by Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
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.
