explore 
with cave, for the purpose of ascertaining the 
appearance, nature, condition, circumstances, 
etc., of ; inquire into; scrutinize; specifically, to 
traverse or range over (a part or country) for 
the purpose of geographical discovery : as, Mo- 
ses sent spies to explore the land of Canaan; 
to explore a gunshot-wound to find the bullet. 
Extiliire all their intents ; 
And what you find may profit the repulilir. 
Acquaint me with it. B. Jini^nt. Catiline, iii. 2. 
Behold them, leaning on their scythes, look o'er 
The labour past, and toils to come explore. 
Crahbe, Works, I. 9. 
The attempt to expla-e the Red river, . . . though con- 
ducted with a zeal ami prudence meriting entire approba- 
tion, lias not been equally successful. 
Jefferson, Works, VIII. 66. 
To ejciilorr the hitherto unexplored resources of our own 
country. D. Webster, Speech, Boston, June 5, 1838. 
= Syn. 2. Xrnitinize, etc. See search. 
explorement (eks-plor'raent), it. [< explore + 
-merit.] The act of exploring ; search ; trial. 
[Rare.] 
It is surely very rare, as we arc induced to believe from 
some enquiry of our own . . . and the frustrated search 
of Porta, who, upon the explorement of many, could scarce 
flnde one. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., Hi. 18. 
explorer (eks-plor'er), n. One who or that 
which explores : oftenest applied to a geograph- 
ical worker. Specifically (a) One who makes geo- 
graphical discoveries by traveling in unknown or imper 
fectly known regions, (b) Any instrument used in explor- 
ing or sounding a wound, or a cavity in a tooth, etc. (c) 
An apparatus employed in examining the bottom of a body 
of water. 
exploring (eks-plor'ing), p. a. Employed in or 
designed for exploration : as, exploring parties. 
explosible (eks-plo'zi-bl), a. [= F. explosible; 
< L. explosus, pp. of explodere, explode, + -Me.] 
Capable of exploding or of being exploded. 
It proved itself to be by no means so readily fxplosible 
as has usually been supposed. 
Alhen&um, No. 3155, p. 473. 
explosion (eks-plo'zhon), . [= F. explosion = 
Sp. explosion = Pg. exploscto = It. esplosione, < 
L. explosio(n-), a driving off by clapping, < ex- 
plodere, pp. explosus, clap, explode: see ex- 
plode.'} 1. The act of exploding; a sudden 
expansion of a substance, as gunpowder or an 
elastic fluid, with force and, usually, a loud re- 
port; a sudden and loud discharge: as, the ex- 
plosion of powder ; an explosion of fire-damp. 
In explosion vast 
The thunder raises his tremendous voice. 
Thomson, Summer, 1. 1131. 
Explosive mixtures of coal-gas and air may be inflamed 
by sparks struck from metal or stone. Thus an explosion 
may arise from the blow of the tool of a workman against 
iron or stone, from the tramp of a horse upon pavement, 
etc. E. FraiMand, Exper. in Chemistry, p. 641. 
2. A sudden bursting, or breaking up or in 
pieces, from an internal or other force ; a blow- 
ing up or tearing apart : as, the explosion of a 
steam-boiler. 3. A bursting into sudden ac- 
tivity ; a violent outburst, as of natural forces 
or of human emotion, expression, or action. 
He [the Bishop of Ossory] has left a narrative of liis 
brief episcopate, in which, amid the explosions of rancour 
and disappointment, it is possible to discern the reality 
of some things concerning the Church and country of Ire- 
land. K. W. Dimn, Hist. Church of Eng., xxi. 
la not the inaudible, inward laughter of Emerson more 
refreshing than the explosions of our noisiest humorists ? 
0. W. Holmes, Emerson, v. 
4. The discharge of a nerve-cell ; the emission 
of nervous energy from a cell or from a group 
of cells. 
Keeping up the treatment till all tendency to psychical 
or motor explosion in the cerebral centers disappears, if 
it takes a lifetime to do it. Alien, and Neural., VIII. 105. 
Somehow, though we cannot tell how. the exquisitely 
fine and complex organisation of nerve-structure is dam- 
aged by the intense molecular commotion which is the 
condition of the epileptic explosion. 
Maudxley, Body and Will, p. 261. 
explosive (eks-plo'siv), o. and n. [< L. explo- 
sus, pp. of explodere, explode, + -ire.] I. . 
1 . Pertaining to or of the nature of explosion ; 
tending or liable to explode, or to cause explo- 
sion: as, the explosire force of gunpowder; ex- 
plosive mixture ; explosive paroxysms of nerve- 
force. 2. InpMlol., involving in utterance the 
breach of a complete closure of the organs ; not 
continuous; mute; forming a complete vocal 
stop: as, an explosive consonant. See II., 2. 
II. n. 1. Any substance by whose decomposi- 
tion or combustion gas is generated with such 
rapidity that it can be used for blasting or in 
firearms. Of these substances gunpowder, often called 
simply powder, is by far the best-known, and has been in 
use for a long time. Guncotton, nitroglycerin, ami vari- 
ous preparations containing nitroglycerin, known as po- 
tentite, forcite, etc., are some of the explosives more re- 
2084 
rently introduced. The principal explosive agents used 
fi'i- military purposes are guncotton, dynamite, the vari- 
ous funpowoen, nitroglycerin, and the fulminates. See 
these words. 
2. In philol., a non-continuous or mute conso- 
nant, as Te, t, p. Also exploit* nl. 
The law of least effort requires that the vowel should 
precede the continuants anil follow the rxpl: 
Isaac Taylor, The Alphabet, II. 144, note. 
High explosive, an explosive which is quicker or more 
pnucrt'iil tlum gunpowder. 
explosively (eks-plo'siv-li), adr. In an explo- 
sive manner; by or with explosion. 
explosiveness (eks-plo'siv-nes), n. The prop- 
erty of being explosive. 
expbliationt (eks-po-li-a'shon), n. [= Sp. ex- 
poliarion, < LL. expoliatio(n-), exspoliatio(n-), < 
expoliare, exspoliare, rob, spoil, < ex, out, from, 
+ spoliare, rob, strip: see spoil.] A spoiling; 
spoliation. 
Now thy bloody passion begins ; a cruel exspoliatian be- 
gins that violence. Bp. Hall, The Crucifixion. 
expolisht (eks-pol'ish), v. t. [After polisli, q. v., 
< L. expolire, smooth off, polish, < ex, out, + 
polire, polish : see polisli.] To polish with care. 
To strive, where nothing is amiss, to mend ; 
To polish and expolinh, paint and stain. 
//fi/uwrf, Hist. Women (1624). 
exponet (eks-ppn'), r. t. [= D. exponeren = Q. 
exponiren = Dan. ejcponere = Sw. exponent = 
Sp. exponer = It. esponere, esporre, < L. expo- 
mere, set forth, expound: see expound.] 1. To 
set forth ; explain ; expound. 
Expone me this; and yee shall sooth it find. 
llakluyfi I'uyayei, I. 197. 
Ye say it belongs to you alone to expone the covenant. 
Drummond, Skiamachia. 
2. To expose, as to danger. 
The exponing of this Christian calling to be euill spoken 
of is a greater sinne. Rollockr, On 1 Thes., p. 183. 
3. To represent; characterize. 
He declared the marquis of Argyle his good opinion he 
conceived of the people of Aberdeen, taking them to be 
worse exponed than they were indeed. 
Spalding, Hist. Troubles in Scotland. II. 200. 
exponent (eks-po'nent), . and n. [= D. G. 
Dan. Sw. exponent = Sp. Pg. exponents = It. 
esponente, < L. exponen(t-)s, ppr. otexponere, set 
forth, indicate, expound: see expone, expound, 
and expose.] I. a. Exemplifying; explicating. 
Exponent proposition, a proposition setting forth 
the meaning of an obscure proposition of the kind called 
exponible, and stating it in regular form. See exponible. 
II. n. 1. One who expounds or explains. 
We find him |Mr. Oreen) for the first time coming for- 
ward as the exponent of Coleridge's view of the " National 
Clerisy." Saturday Jtep. 
2. One who or that which stands as an index 
or representative ; one who or that which ex- 
emplifies or represents the principle or char- 
acter of something: as, the leader of a party is 
the exponent of its principles. 
It is always a little difficult todecipher what this public 
sense is ; and when a great man comes who knots up into 
himself the opinions and wishes of the people, it is so 
much easier to follow him as an exponent of this. 
Emerson, Fugitive Slave Law. 
The religions that demanded toleration hut meant ty- 
ranny were no true exponents of religious liberty. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist, p. 235. 
3. In alg., a symbol placed above and at the 
right of another symbol (the base), to denote 
that the latter is to be raised to the power in- 
dicated by the former. Thus, a2 = aa, - being the 
exponent. The process symbolized by a negative exponent 
is the same as taking the reciprocal of the quantity with 
the positive exponent. Thus, a-' = . A fractional 
exponent, the numerator of the fraction being unity, indi- 
cates the operation of taking that root of the base which is 
indicated by the denominator of the exponent : thus, x* 
= yx. Exponents are usually understood to follow the 
associative law (a b ) = afbc), and the distributive law a b + c 
= aba". But in quaternions and multiple algebra the lat- 
ter holds only in a modified form. In Hamilton's notation 
of quaternions, (a*X = &(<*). Exponents were introduced 
into the notation of algebra by Descartes. 
4. A particular example illustrating the mean- 
ing of a general statement. 
exponential (eks-po-nen'shal), a. and n. I. . 
Of or pertaining to an exponent or exponents ; 
involving variable exponents Exponential cal- 
culus, the doctrine of the fluxions and fluents, or differen- 
tials and integrals, of exponential functions. Exponen- 
tial curve or equation, a curve or an equation depend- 
ing upon an exponential function. Exponential func- 
tion, a function into which the variable enters as a part 
of the exponent : often restricted to cases in which the base 
of the exponent is real. Exponential integral, the in- 
tegral 
/"'' d. 
expose 
Exponential theorem, the theorem that every quantity 
is equal to the sum of all the positive integral powers of 
its logarithm, each divided by the factorial of its expo- 
nent ; or, in algebraical form, 
II. . The function expressed by the infinite 
series 1 + x + %x$ + ix 3 +, etc., or the Xapierian 
base raised to the power indicated by the varia- 
ble. Tims, c x = exp. x is the exponential of x. 
exponible (eks-po'ni-bl), a. [= It. esponible, < 
h. exponere, set forth (see expone, expound), + 
-ible.] 1. That can be explained. 2. Admit- 
ting or requiring exposition.- Exponible enun- 
ciation. Sre i iiinii'i'itHi' n. Exponible proposition, an 
obscure proposition, or one containing a sign not included 
in the regular forms of propositions recognized by logic. 
Such are, Man alone cooks his food ; Every man but Enoch 
and Elijah is mortal. 
export (eks-port'), r. t. [=.F. exporter = Sp. 
exporter = D. exporteren = G. exportiren = Dan. 
exportere = Sw. exportera, < L. exportare, carry 
out, carry away, < ex, out, + portare, carry, 
bear: see port.] 1. To take or carry away. 
They export honour from a man, and make him a return 
in envy. Bacon, Followers and Friends (ed. 1887). 
Specifically 2. To send to a distant point, as 
commodities ; send for sale or exchange to other 
countries or places. 
The liberty of exporting wool had . . . been cut down 
before the English manufactures were able to take up the 
home supply. Knci/c. Brit., VI. 410. 
export (eks'port), n, [= D. Dan. Sw. export ; 
from the verb.] 1. The act of exporting; ex- 
portation: as, to prohibit the export of grain. 
An efficient patrol of the sea by armed cruisers would 
stop the importation of food and the export of commodi- 
ties in a week. The Engineer, LXV. 407. 
2. That which is exported ; a commodity car- 
ried from one place or country to another for 
sale : generally in the plural. 
The ordinary course of exchange . . . between two places 
must likewise be an indication of the course of their ex- 
ports and imports. 
Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, iv. 3. 
The amount of exports for 1833 being, according to the 
treasury estimate, no less than ninety millions of dollars. 
D. Webtter, Senate, March 18, 1834. 
exportable (eks-por'ta-bl), a. [< export + 
-able.'] Capable of being exported. 
We are putting up the price of our exportable products. 
The American, IX. 477. 
exportation (eks-p6r-ta'shpn), n. [ F. expor- 
tation = Sp. exportation = Pg. exportaqSo = It. 
esportazione, < L. exportatio(n-), a carrying out. 
exportation, < exportare, carry out: see export.] 
1. The act of carrying out or taking away. 
They were wont to speak by it [the corpse] from the 
time of its death till its exportation to the grave. 
Bourne, Pop. Antiq. (ed. 1725), p. 15. 
Specifically 2. The act of conveying or send- 
ing to a distance, especially to another state 
or country, commodities in the course of com- 
merce. 
The cause of a kingdom's thriving is fruitfulness of soil 
to produce necessaries, not only sufficient for the inhabi- 
tants, but for exportation into other countries. Swift. 
3. The thing or things exported. 
exporter (eks-por'ter), n. One who exports; 
specifically, one who ships goods, wares, and 
merchandise of any kind to a foreign country 
or distant place for sale : opposed to importer. 
Money will be melted down, or carried away in coin by 
the exporter. Locke. 
exposal (eks-po'zal), n. [< expose + -al.] Ex- 
posure. 
I believe our corrupted air, and frequent thick fogs, are 
in a great measure owing to the common exposal of our 
wit. Swift, Advice to a Young Poet. 
expose (eks-poz'), r. t.; pret. and pp. exposed, 
ppr. exposing. [< OF. exposer (= Pr. expauzar), 
< L. exponere, pp. expositits, set forth, lay open, 
expose (see expone, expound), but in form con- 
fused with OF. poser, etc., ML. pausare, place. 
Cf. appose 1 , appose^, compose, depose, impose, 
propose, repose, suppose, transpose.] 1 . To place 
or set forth so as to be seen or known ; lay open 
to view ; lay bare ; uncover ; reveal : as, to ex- 
pose a thing to the light ; to expose a secret. 
To deal plainly with you, it were an Injury to the public 
Good not to expose to open Light such divine Raptures. 
Howell, Letters, I. v. 12. 
The lid of the chest stood open, exposing, amid their 
perfumed napkins, its treasure of stuffs and jewels. 
R. James, Jr., Pass. Pilgrim, p. 362. 
2. To place on view ; exhibit; show: as, to ex- 
pose goods for sale. 
It was now neere Easter, and many images were expound 
i>i. *. -11 Denting y Passion. 
Evelyn, Diary, March 18, 1644. 
irith scenes <t stories representing y Passion. 
' , Di 
