ikˈspau̇nd, ek- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English expounden, expounen, from Middle French expondre, espondre, from Latin exponere to explain, expound, set forth, from ex- ex- (I) + ponere to put, place — more at position
transitive verb
1.
a. : to set forth : state , present , teach
expounds his conviction that the economic outlook is brightening
expounding a philosophy from which she shrank — William McFee
expounding to the literate but uninformed some of the mysteries of economics — Quincy Howe
it's the personality of the teacher that counts, far more than the topic he expounds — R.B.Merriman
expounded with distinguished precision the difference between an extinct and an extirpated bird — Edmund Wilson
b. : to defend with argument : advocate
welcomed … the suggestions of a union with the Church of England, which some … clergymen in the two churches expounded because of an alleged similarity in spirit and ritual — R.C.Wood
2. : to make clear the meaning of : comment on : interpret , explain , construe , gloss
expounded to his monks … the religious significance of … the Song of Songs — G.C.Sellery
spent much of his time expounding the conflict between Christianity and Communism — Current Biography
used to take me riding before breakfast and expound my shortcomings — John Buchan
expound a law
intransitive verb
1. : to make a statement : present a view : discourse , comment — often used with on
when executives expound on the subject their views coincide remarkably — W.H.Whyte
expound on the many good reasons for getting to know Great Britain — Richard Joseph
sportsmen will expound for hours on their observations — G.J.Knudsen
2. : to make explanatory comments : explain
you speak of the time assigned … I … would like you to expound — O.W.Holmes †1935