/ ɪkˈsplænətri; NAmE -tɔːri/ adjective
[ usually before noun ] giving the reasons for sth; intended to describe how sth works or to make sth easier to understand :
There are explanatory notes at the back of the book.
—see also self-explanatory
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from late Latin explanatorius , from Latin explanare , based on planus plain.