From Latin 'explorare' (to scout out) — possibly linked to 'plorare' (to cry out), connecting it to 'implore' and 'deplore.'
To travel through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it; to examine or investigate thoroughly.
From Latin 'explōrāre' (to search out, to examine, to investigate), originally a military term meaning 'to scout, to reconnoiter.' The prefix 'ex-' means 'out,' but the second element '-plōrāre' is debated. It may be related to 'plōrāre' (to cry out, to weep), with the original sense being 'to cry out' (as a scout calling out observations) — or it may derive from a different root related to flowing or movement. The military sense of scouting unknown territory naturally extended to geographical exploration and, later
If the 'plōrāre' (to cry out) etymology is correct, then 'explore,' 'implore,' and 'deplore' are all built on the same root for crying. To explore was originally to cry out (as a scout reporting); to implore is to cry upon (to beg); to deplore is to cry out against (to lament). Three very different English words, potentially unified by an ancient
Words closest in meaning, ranked by similarity