Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EX-PLA-NA'TION, n. [L. explanatio.]

1. The act of explaining, expounding or interpreting; exposition; illustration; interpretation; the act of clearing from obscurity and making intelligible; as, the explanation of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty.
2. The sense given by an expounder or interpreter.
3. A mutual exposition of terms, meanings or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences. Hence, reconciliation, agreement or good understanding of parties who have been at variance. The parties have come to an explanation.