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Make Your Point > Archived Issues > EXPOUND

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pronounce EXPOUND:

ex POUND
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connect this word to others:

As we explore the word expound, see if you can recall one that's very closely related:

A person who expounds on some idea or plan that they strongly believe in is an expounder; or an expositor; or, more mathematically-sounding, an expo___t.

(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) 

definition:

The word "expound" traces back through French to the Latin exponere, "to show, to offer, to reveal, to publish," or more literally, "to put forth, to place forth."

We've used it in English for many centuries to mean "to declare, to explain in detail."

In other words, when you expound your ideas, or when you expound on your ideas, you're explaining them in a clear and detailed way, often in writing.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Verb. It's both the transitive kind ("She expounded her theory") and the intransitive kind ("She expounded at dinner;" "She expounded on her theory").

Other forms: 

The other verb forms are "expounded" and "expounding."

People who expound are "expounders," "expositors," or "exponents;" you can take your pick.

how to use it:

When you want to sound very formal and academic as you describe how someone is laying out the details of some idea, especially in writing, pick the common word "expound."

You might say the person is expounding the idea. Or you might say they're expounding on (or even more formally, upon) the idea.

More specifically, you might talk about someone expounding on theories, principles, reasons, the importance of something, the difficulty of something, the dangers or disadvantages of something, or the merits or advantages of something.

examples:

"Several nights a week, after Mr. Jones was asleep, they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others."
  — George Orwell, Animal Farm, 1945

"[Stephen Hawking] expounded on the importance of communicating science to the public: 'Before I lost my voice, it was slurred, so only those close to me could understand, but with the computer voice, I found I could give popular lectures. I enjoy communicating science. It is important that the public understands basic science, if they are not to leave vital decisions to others.'"
  — Stephen Hawking, as quoted by Sarah Gray, Salon, 13 January 2015

has this page helped you understand "expound"?

   

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this term, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.


study it:

Explain the meaning of "expound" without saying "delineate" or "explicate."

try it out:

Fill in the blanks: "(Some book or movie) expounds on (some idea)."

Example 1: "KPop Demon Hunters expounds on the importance of self-acceptance. And it's got bops."

Example 2: "Snowpiercer wasn't a terribly subtle film, turning the evils of capitalism into a speeding freight train that hurtles at the viewer, but every way it expounded on its sci-fi future felt vital."
  — Joshua Rivera, The Verge, 18 May 2020




before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game for this month is Just Joshing: John Oliver Edition!

Flex your creativity and word-finding skills as you fill in the blanks to create your own joke, following the example of the comedian John Oliver. Since the LOLs are in the details, try making your joke as specific (or weird) as possible.

For example, if I give you "The only things you should be buying on eBay are _____ and _____," then you might give me "The only things you should be buying on eBay are pieces of gum chewed by Elvis and unassembled snowmen." (Oliver's actual joke was "The only things you should be buying on eBay are vintage RadioShack swag and a discarded e-meter from the Church of Scientology.")

Try this one today: "An internal email shared with ABC News shows just 12 employees to be assigned to the entire continent of Africa. That is not even enough people to _____."

To see my crack at it, as well as Oliver's original joke, scroll all the way down.

review this word:

1. Opposites of EXPOUND include

A. JOIN and COALESCE.
B. THRESH and TRITURATE.
C. CONCEAL and SUMMARIZE.

2. In Frindle by Andrew Clements, Nick's fifth grade teacher punishes him by assigning him an extra research project and a brief oral report to the class. Nick gets his revenge during the oral report, though, by expounding _____.

A. several planned interruptions, with the help of his classmates
B. a series of outlandish interpretive dances, delivered with a straight face
C. on his topic in excruciating detail, taking up almost the entire class period




Answers to the review questions:
1. C
2. C

From the game:

My crack at it: "An internal email shared with ABC News shows just 12 employees to be assigned to the entire continent of Africa. That is not even enough people to direct incoming traffic at a Renaissance Faire."

Oliver's original joke: "An internal email shared with ABC News shows just 12 employees to be assigned to the entire continent of Africa. That is not even enough people to fully staff a Chili's."


a final word:


I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.

I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.


From my blog:
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A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.

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