explained
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
An inflected form of explain · past form.
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,110 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 16,557 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.008% of every word in the library.
What it means
verb
- make plain and comprehensible also: explicate He explained the laws of physics to his students
- define The committee explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean
- serve as a reason or cause or justification of also: excuse Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at workHer recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again
explained in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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In the annotations the chief points of difficulty have been explained.
Narrative and Lyric Poems (first series) · O. J. [Annotator] Stevenson · Chapter 1
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He explained shortly that he must get to them and tell them.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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On this Saphir explained about the state of his father’s health, and all that has been told before.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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A certain swagger and richness of deportment were explained by his statement that he had been on the stage.
Admiral Peters Odd Craft, Part 14. · W. W. (William Wymark) Jacobs · Chapter 1
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Lady Luard explained to me that her husband had been with them but had had to go down to the House.
Greville Fane · Henry James · Chapter 1