What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Elucidate vs Elicit - What's the difference?

elucidate | elicit |

As verbs the difference between elucidate and elicit

is that elucidate is to make clear; to clarify; to shed light upon while elicit is to evoke, educe (emotions, feelings, responses, etc.); to generate, obtain, or provoke as a response or answer.

As an adjective elicit is

elicited; drawn out; made real; open; evident.

elucidate

English

Verb

(elucidat)
  • To make clear; to clarify; to shed light upon.
  • * 1817 , , Northanger Abbey , ch. 13:
  • The business, however, though not perfectly elucidated by this speech, soon ceased to be a puzzle.
  • * 1960 , " Medicine: Unmasking the Brain," Time , 4 April:
  • [P]hysicians at the annual meeting of the American Academy of General Practice were fascinated by a 3-ft. model showing the brain's components in 20 layers of translucent plastic, and wired for colored lights to elucidate some of its workings.
  • * 2004 , David Bernstein, “ Philosophy Hitches a Ride With ‘The Sopranos’,” New York Times , 13 April (retrieved 19 Aug. 2009):
  • The new Sopranos volume has 17 essays that examine the television show and elucidate concepts from classical philosophers, including Aristotle, Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Sun Tzu and Plato.

    Synonyms

    * explicate, illuminate

    Derived terms

    * elucidation * elucidative * elucidator * elucidatory

    elicit

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To evoke, educe (emotions, feelings, responses, etc.); to generate, obtain, or provoke as a response or answer.
  • To draw out, bring out, bring forth (something latent); to obtain information from someone or something.
  • Fred wished to elicit the time of the meeting from Jane.
    ''Did you elicit a response?
  • To use logic to arrive at truth; to derive by reason; deduce; construe.
  • See also

    * illicit

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (obsolete) Elicited; drawn out; made real; open; evident.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • An elicit act of equity.
    ----