Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Clarify

Clar′i-fy

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Clarified
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Clarifying
.]
[F.
clarifier
, from L.
clarificare
;
clarus
clear +
facere
to make. See
Clear
, and
Fact
.]
1.
To make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; – said of liquids, as wine or sirup.
“Boiled and clarified.”
Ure.
2.
To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or illuminate.
To
clarify
his reason, and to rectify his will.
South.
3.
To glorify.
[Obs.]
Fadir,
clarifie
thi name.
Wyclif (John ii. 28).

Clar′i-fy

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To grow or become clear or transparent; to become free from feculent impurities, as wine or other liquid under clarification.
2.
To grow clear or bright; to clear up.
Whosoever hath his mind fraught with many thoughts, his wits and understanding do
clarify
and break up in the discoursing with another.
Bacon.

Webster 1828 Edition

Clarify

CLARIFY

, v.t.
1.
To make clear; to purify from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; applied particularly to liquors; as, to clarify wine, or syrup.
2.
To make clear; to brighten or illuminate; applied to the mind or reason.

CLARIFY

, v.i.
1.
To clear up; to grow clear or bright.
His understanding clarifies, in discoursing with another.
2.
To grow or become clear or fine; to become pure, as liquors. Cider clarifies by fermentation.

Definition 2024

clarify

clarify

English

Verb

clarify ‎(third-person singular simple present clarifies, present participle clarifying, simple past and past participle clarified)

  1. To make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; -- said of liquids, as wine or syrup.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Ure:
      Boiled and clarified.
  2. To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or illuminate.
    • (Can we date this quote?) South:
      To clarify his reason, and to rectify his will.
  3. (ergative) To grow or become clear or transparent; to become free from feculent impurities, as wine or other liquid under clarification.
    Leave the wine for 24 hours and it will clarify.‎
  4. (ergative) To grow clear or bright; to clear up.
  5. (obsolete) To glorify.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Wyclif Bible, John ii. 28 to this entry?)

Translations

Etymology

From French clarifier, from Latin clarificare; clarus ‎(“clear”) + facere ‎(“make”).

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