Eksplicitere

Eksplicitere is a Danish verb meaning to make something explicit, to state clearly and in detail what might otherwise be implicit or ambiguous. In English, the closest equivalents are to explicate, to spell out, or to make explicit. The term is commonly used in academic, policy, and communication contexts where precision and clarity are important.

Etymology and meaning: Eksplicitere comes from the Danish adjective eksplicit (explicit) and adds the common verb suffix -ere. The root traces back to Latin explicare (to unfold, explain), likely via French expliciter. In Danish, the verb is used to indicate the act of clarifying or detailing assumptions, criteria, data, methods, or arguments so that no essential aspect remains ambiguous. The English cognate explicate shares the same lineage.

Usage and examples: Eksplicitere is used when a writer or speaker intends to remove ambiguity by presenting information in a clear and detailed manner. For example, in a research report one might explain why certain data were excluded, or in a policy document one might eksplicitere the criteria used for decision-making. In Danish, sentences often employ the infinitive form after verbs of intention, as in “vi skal eksplicitere vores antagelser” (we need to make our assumptions explicit).

Relation to related terms: Eksplicitere is closely related to equivalents like forklarer or uddyber, but it specifically emphasizes rendering the implicit explicit. It sits opposite to implicit, which refers to information that is not directly stated.

See also: explicit, implicit, explicate, explicature.