expatiate
[ ik-spey-shee-eyt ]
/ ɪkˈspeɪ ʃiˌeɪt /
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verb (used without object), ex·pa·ti·at·ed, ex·pa·ti·at·ing.
to enlarge in discourse or writing; be copious in description or discussion: to expatiate upon a theme.
Archaic. to move or wander about intellectually, imaginatively, etc., without restraint.
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Origin of expatiate
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin expatiātus, past participle of ex(s)patiārī “to wander, digress,” equivalent to ex- “from, out of, beyond” + spatiārī “to walk about,” derivative of spatium “area, space, playing field, racetrack”; see -ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM expatiate
ex·pa·ti·a·tion, nounex·pa·ti·a·tor, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use expatiate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for expatiate
expatiate
/ (ɪkˈspeɪʃɪˌeɪt) /
verb (intr)
(foll by on or upon) to enlarge (on a theme, topic, etc) at length or in detail; elaborate (on)
rare to wander about
Derived forms of expatiate
expatiation, nounexpatiator, nounWord Origin for expatiate
C16: from Latin exspatiārī to digress, from spatiārī to walk about
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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