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Added 30 September 2026

delineate

/dɪˈlɪniːeɪt/ verb

Latin root: dēlīneātus First recorded: 1559 Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about delineate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To sketch out, draw or trace an outline.
To depict, represent with pictures.
To describe or depict with words or gestures.

adjective

Delineated, sketched out.
Sketched out, portrayed, described, defined.

Origin

First attested in 1559; borrowed from Latin dēlīneātus, perfect passive participle of dēlīneo (“to sketch out, to delineate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from dē- + līnea (“line”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Regular participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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