elucidatio

Elucidatio is a Latin noun that denotes an elucidation, explanation, or clarification. Formed from the verb elucidare, it carries the sense of making something clear or bright in a figurative and scholastic sense. In Latin literary and philosophical usage, elucidatio can refer to the act of explaining a difficult passage or the product of such explanation, such as a commentary or explanatory note.

Historically, elucidatio appears in medieval and early modern scholarly contexts as a part of textual apparatus. Editors and glossators often include an elucidatio to help readers understand obscure terms, allusions, or technical arguments within a main text. The term may occur as a title or caption for a section that offers explanations, marginal glosses, or scholastic glosses intended to clarify the primary work.

In modern scholarship, elucidatio is encountered primarily in discussions of philology, manuscript studies, and the history of exegesis. While the Latin term itself is not common as a running heading in contemporary editions, its concept persists in the practice of providing notes, glosses, or critical commentary that illuminate difficult passages or historical contexts. When used, elucidatio signals a deliberate act of clarification intended to bridge the gap between an original source and the reader’s understanding.

Etymology and related terms reflect the broader family of words derived from lucere, meaning to shine or be clear. Related English forms include elucidate and elucidation, and in Latin scholarly usage, synonyms or near equivalents include commentarium, gloss auctorial, and explicatio.