clarify
UK: ˈklærɪfaɪ | US: ˈklærəˌfaɪ
vt. to make clear or easier to understand
vt. to free from impurities or obscurity
vi. to become clear or transparent
The word "clarify" traces back to the Latin clarificare, a combination of clarus (clear) and -ficare (to make). It entered Middle English via Old French clarifier, retaining its core sense of "to make clear." The morphemes clar- and -ify are preserved in modern English, reflecting the word's logical progression from physical clarity (e.g., clarifying butter) to abstract understanding (e.g., clarifying a statement).
The teacher used diagrams to clarify the complex theory.
Heat the broth to clarify it by removing impurities.
Could you clarify your instructions for the team?
The lawyer asked the witness to clarify their testimony.
Over time, the muddy water began to clarify on its own.