Expound

v. Forms: α. 4–5 expoun-en, -pown-en, 4–6 expoun(e, -pown(e (5 exponne); β. 3–6 expounde, expownd(e (5 exspound), 4– expound. Pa. t. and pa. pple. 5–6 expouned, -powne(d, -pownd(e, -pound(e. [ME. expoune-n, expounde, ad. OF. espondre, espundre, ex- (3 pl. esponent, derivs. espon-, espond-) = Pr., Sp. esponer, Pg. espõr, It. esporre:—L. expōnĕre, to put out, set forth, explain: see EXPONE. The d of the Fr. inf. -pondre was mechanically developed in the transition from the n to the r of -ponre the regular contraction of L. -pōnĕre; a pa. pple. -pondu and various derivatives were formed on the inf. stem.

  In ME. the prevailing form was expoune, adopted according to the usual practice from the finite parts of the Fr. vb.; but the form expound(e, from the inf., appeared equally early in northern writers (Hampole and the Cursor Mundi). In the course of the 16th c. expoune became obsolete, the general adoption of expound being favored by the phonetic tendency exhibited in sound for the earlier soun, and also by the frequent occurrence of expound as pa. pple. In accordance with the analogy of expound = L. exponere, the earlier compoune, compone were in 16th c. replaced by compound, and propone by propound; in the former case the substitution may have been partly due to other causes: see COMPOUND v.]

  1.  trans. To set forth, declare, state in detail (doctrines, ideas, principles; formerly, with wider application).

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., A. 37. To þat spot þat I in speche expoun I entred in þat erber grene. Ibid., B. 1058. Clopyngnel expounez … a speche, to hym þat spede wolde Of a lady to be loued.

1382.  Wyclif, Isa. xliv. 7. The ordre expoune to me.

1519.  Interl. Four Elements, in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 37. He hath expound cunningly Divers points of cosmography.

1526.  Tindale, Acts xxviii. 23. There cam many vnto hym … to whom he expouned and testifyed the kyngdom of God.

1736.  Shenstone, Schoolmistress, x. She … quaintly cou’d expound The Chicken-feeding Pow’r of ev’ry Crumb she found.

1748.  Hartley, Observ. Man, I. iii. 344. Ideas, or the Motions by which they are expounded.

1812.  Woodhouse, Astron., xvi. 171. Formulæ expounding its quantity and law.

1845.  Sarah Austin, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Ref., I. 455. The doctrines expounded by St. Augustine.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 162. I have … an excellent interpretation … which I will expound to you.

  absol.  1502.  Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 70. We will and ordeigne that all curattz … iiij tymes in the yere in the masse tyme publish and expowne.

1682.  Dryden, Relig. Laici, 23.

  b.  To set forth, represent (a mathematical function or quantity) by figures, symbols, etc.

1708.  E. Halley, in Misc. Cur., II. 102. The roots may be expounded by Perpendiculars let fall, upon the Axis or given Diameter of the given Parabola, from the Intersections of that Curve with a Circle.

1812.  Woodhouse, Astron., xxvi. 268. These perturbations, when numerically expounded, are so insignificant [etc.].

  2.  To explain, interpret.

  a.  gen. To explain (what is difficult or obscure); to state the signification of; to comment on (a passage or an author).

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1727. Now expowne þe þis speche spedly I þenk.

1436.  Pol. Poems (1859), II. 182. Expoune me this, and ye shall sothe it fynde.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 119. To Expo(w)nde, commentari.

1511–2.  Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. 23 § 12. The same Ambiguyte … [shall] be declared, expownned … by the Chaunceller.

1628.  T. Spencer, Logick, 113. This definition hath nothing in it to be expounded.

1826.  Scott, Woodst., viii. One who was expounding some religious Mystery to them.

1869.  J. Martineau, Ess., II. 100. Our author proceeds to expound his own analysis.

  b.  esp. To interpret, comment upon (Scripture, religious formularies, etc.). Now chiefly with reference to homiletic exposition. Also absol.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17288 + 383 (Cott.). And þus he … expounded þe prophesyes.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 4272. His ministres sal swa lette yhit Þat na man sal expound haly writ.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. ix. 47. To expowne or interprete or glose dewli and treuly Holi Scripture.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 3. Saynt Gregory expoundynge the same place of Scripture sayth.

1545.  Udall, etc. Erasm. Paraph. (1548), Luke viii. 90 b. Many other parables … all which … he expounded severally unto his disciples.

1656.  Bramhall, Replic., i. 5. The primitive Fathers expounded it [the Creed] where it did stand in need of clearer explication.

1715.  De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. i. (1841), I. 17. The Spirit of God expounds the word of God to us.

1867.  Lady Herbert, Cradle L., viii. 220. Our divine Lord, having read in the Book of the Prophet Isaias the words regarding Himself, sat down and expounded them to the people.

  absol.  a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, Prol. In expounynge i fologh haly doctours.

1733.  Neal, Hist. Purit., II. 272. He was suspended … for expounding upon the Catechism.

1778.  Fletcher, Lett., Wks. 1795, VII. 222. I have ventured … to expound once in the church.

1854.  Macaulay, Bunyan, Misc. Writ. 1860, II. 230. Those martial saints who fought and expounded in Fairfax’s army.

  † c.  To interpret the motives or reasons of a person. Obs.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iii. § 5. D 3. Cicero doth excuse and expound the Philosophers for going too far.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 25. He, that says what he thinks, lays himself open to be expounded by the most ignorant.

  † d.  To give the meaning of (a word or name); also, to give a version of in another language; to translate. Obs.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 277. In englisch … it is wel harde wel to expounen.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sec. Nun’s T., 86. First wol I yow the name of seint Cecilie Expoune … It is to say on Englisch, hevenes lilie.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 7 (MS. A). We moun knowe surgerie bi expownynge of his name: for siurge comeþ of siros … & in englisch siros is an hand.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6691. Þe kyng his preching walde expound, And telle it in englyssh tonge.

1549.  Latimer, Serm. Ploughers (Arb.), 33. For them yat be vnlearned I wyll expounde it.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xxii. 79. So soon as the Interpreter had read the Letter, and expounded the contents thereof.

  e.  To interpret, explain the significance of (a dream, vision, symbol, etc.); to interpret, solve (a riddle); rarely, to explain, account for (a phenomenon). arch.

1375.  Canticum de Creatione, 773, in Anglia. I. Þe angel anon gan it expoun and tolde him what it [a tree] was.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Monk’s T., 166. Daniel … the dremes of the kyng expowned.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 7176. I wole bigynne, To expowne you the pith withynne.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 728. His mayster on þis wyse had Expounde his visyoun.

1535.  Coverdale, Judges xiv. 14. They coulde not expounde the ryddle.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 79. My Master … has left mee here behinde to expound the meaning or morrall of his signes and tokens.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 215.

1814.  Wordsw., White Doe, I. 223. Studious to expound The spectacle.

  f.  To infer from indications. rare^–1.

1821–56.  De Quincey, Confess. (1862), 269. The clouds by which chiefly the eye expounds the distance of the blue pavilion stretched over our heads.

  g.  refl. † To explain one’s meaning (obs.). Also, to be one’s own expositor.

1601.  Cornwallyes, Ess., II. xlviii. (1631), 307. An abilitie to behold things ambiguous with the true sight gives … circumstances, leave to expound themselves.

1661.  Bramhall, Just Vind., vii. 163. The Pope was forced to expound himself.

1859.  Tennyson, Vivien, 316. The people call you prophet: let it be: But not of those that can expound themselves.

  3.  To give a particular interpretation to; to construe in a specified manner. With adv. or phrase. Now chiefly in Law.

1533–4.  Act 25 Hen. VIII., c. 21 § 19. Prouided alwaies, that this act nor anythinge … therein conteined, shalbe … interpreted or expouned, that [etc.].

1534.  More, On the Passion, Wks. 1314. Some expowne also those woordes … to sygnifye that [etc.].

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. iv. 28. That deadly wownd … The which his mother vainely did expownd to be hart-wownding love.

1685.  Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., Matt. x. 23. This hard Text is variously expounded.

1767.  Blackstone, Comm., II. 381. That a devise be most favourably expounded.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 191. The courts … expound the will in such a manner as to carry the testator’s intention into effect.

1839.  Thirlwall, Greece, IV. 445. Sparta … was constituted the interpreter of the treaty; she expounded it by the rule, not of reason, but of might.

  † b.  To expound (a statement, etc.) concerning or of; to explain as referring to. Obs.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 241. Men expownen comounly þis prophecie of oure Jesus.

c. 1450.  Mirour Saluacioun, 3767. This may be wele expovned of the blissed virgyne marie.

1574.  trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 14. They … that go about to expound this place concerning Christ, according to the letter; do wrest it too violently.

1645.  Ussher, Body Div. (1647), 85. Which place Paul expoundeth of the Holy Ghost.

1724.  A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 236. Those of whom they are ordinarily expounded.

  † c.  To render by a specified term. With complement, or Const. for. Obs.

1530–1.  Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 13. No person … being a comon Baker, Brewer … shall be interpreted or expounded handicrafts men.

1531.  Elyot, Gov., I. i. Chaos … of some is expounde a confuse mixture.

1533.  More, Answ. Poisoned Bk., Wks. 1087/2. Men … that expounde those wordes of Christ … to be spoke and ment of the very eating of hys blessed body.

1599.  Thynne, Animadv. (1875), 33. ‘Orfrayes’ yo^u expounde ‘Goldsmythes Worke.’

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 69. Rabbi Solomon, and Abraham Ezra, expound Egel, for a Calf of one year old.

  † d.  To interpret as a prognostic of something. Const. to. Obs.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Bochas, I. iv. (1544), 7 a. Worthy Ninus … expouned his laughter to great felicitye.

  † 4.  In etymol. sense of L. expōnere (cf. EXPOSE). To expose to view. Obs. rare.

1651.  Life Father Sarpi (1676), p. xxxvii.–viii. He celebrated the Mass, and every Wednesday expounded upon his Altar the holy Sacrament.

1664.  Butler, Hud., II. iii. 1087. First, he expounded both his Pockets, And found a Watch, with Rings and Lockets.

  Hence Expounded ppl. a., Expounding vbl. sb., the action of the vb. EXPOUND; concr. an exposition or interpretation. Expounding ppl. a.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 272. False expounyng of holy writt.

c. 1440.  Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), II. xli. I fele wel of thy Name þe true expownynge that thou art Jhesu hele.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 119. An Expow(n)dynge; commentum.

1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. viii. 2. A fullfilling or expownding part of speache.

1642.  J. Eaton, Honey-c. Free Justific., b iij a. Expounded texts and verses.

1643.  Milton, Divorce, xiii. (1851), 55. A yoke … which … nothing but unwary expounding hath brought upon us.

1745.  Wesley, Answ. Ch., 3. One of our English Brethren … said in his Publick Expounding, ‘As many go to Hell by praying as by thieving.’

1881.  Mahaffy, Old Grk. Educ., xi. 137. The successive scholarchs seem to have thought of nothing but the repeating and expounding of the founder’s view.