elucubrate

[ ih-loo-kyoo-breyt ]

verb (used with object)

, e·lu·cu·brat·ed, e·lu·cu·brat·ing.

1. to produce (especially literary work) by long and intensive effort.

Other Words From

• e·lucu·bration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elucubrate¹

1615–25; < Latin ēlūcubrātus, past participle of ēlūcubrāre to spend the night over (a literary work). See e- ¹, lucubrate

Example Sentences

Bailly, a brainy 13-year-old from Denver, got “glitch,” nailed “elucubrate” and was dubbed the nation’s best speller.

From Washington Post

In 1980, he became the national champion by correctly spelling "elucubrate," a word with Latin origins that means to study at night.

From Seattle Times