Editly Etymology: elicit vs illicit

The editing experts at Editly have mastered commonly confused words over the course of their careers as proofreaders, editors, and AI humanizers. In Editly Etymology, they tap into their own experience to offer a closer look into the horrifying beauty of the English language. This post investigates a classic of confusion: elicit vs illicit.

Elicit Definition

Elicit is a verb that means to draw out something.

Illicit Definition

Illicit is an adjective that means illegal or unethical.

Did you catch that? Just to make sure, let’s ask AI to help us generate a visual representation of each of the words.

Elicit = draw out something.

Illicit = illegal or unethical.

Elicit Root

Mid-17th century English, from Latin.

Illicit Root

Early 16th century English, from French or from Latin. 

Who is to Blame for this Confusion?

This one is clear cut, as the original Latin words carry the identical similarity between the two words from the very beginning. In this case, the undisputed culprit is Latin.

AI Text on Elicit

The word "elicit" has a clear etymological path that traces back to Latin, reflecting its meaning of drawing out or evoking something. Here's a detailed look at its history:

1. Latin Roots: "Elicit" originates from the Latin word "elicitus," the past participle of "elicere." This verb is composed of "e-" (out) and "lacere" (to entice or lure), giving it the basic meaning of drawing out or bringing out by enticement or allure.
2. Etymological Development: The Latin "elicere" suggests a sense of drawing out something that is hidden or latent, such as a response, answer, or fact, through questioning or some form of stimulus.
3. Introduction into English: "Elicit" entered the English language in the early 17th century. Its adoption reflects the need for a term that could convey the action of drawing out responses or facts in a more intellectual or psychological context, as opposed to physical extraction.
4. Modern Usage: In contemporary English, "elicit" is used primarily in a figurative sense. It refers to the process of inducing or extracting something intangible, such as a response, reaction, or information, from someone else. This is often done through questioning, discussion, or some form of stimulus that prompts a reaction.
5. Current Connotations: Today, "elicit" often appears in contexts where reactions, answers, or emotions are drawn out in a manner that suggests skill or subtlety, such as in effective communication, counseling, or in legal settings.

The history of "elicit" illustrates how a word can evolve from its literal Latin origins to acquire a nuanced role in modern language, encapsulating complex interactions that involve drawing out more abstract or emotional responses. (270 words) 

Humanization of AI Text on Elicit

“Elicit” has a clear etymological path from Latin, reflecting its meaning of evoking something. Here's its detailed history:

1. Latin Roots: "Elicit" originates from the Latin word "elicitus," the past participle of "elicere." This verb is composed of "e-" (out) and "lacere" (to entice or lure), giving it the meaning of drawing out by enticement.
2. Etymological Development: The Latin "elicere" suggests drawing out something hidden or latent, such as a response or fact, through some form of stimulus.
3. Introduction into English: "Elicit" entered English in the early 17th century, reflecting the need for a term to convey the action of drawing out in a more intellectual or psychological manner, instead of physical.
4. Modern Usage: In contemporary English, "elicit" is used primarily in a figurative sense, referring to the process of inducing or extracting something intangible from someone else.
5. Current Connotations: "Elicit" often appears in contexts where reactions, answers, or emotions are drawn out in a manner that suggests skill or subtlety.

The history of "elicit" illustrates how a word can evolve from its literal origins to a nuanced role in modern language. (186 words) 

Results of Changing the AI to Human Text on Elicit

To humanize AI writing, one must focus heavily on repetition. By eliminating it, we were able to rewrite the AI text in a way that reduced it from 270 words to 186 words—a reduction of more than 31 percent. In so doing, we also were able to enhance the clarity and readability of the text. In other words, we were able to make it more human.

AI Text on Illicit

The word "illicit" has its origins distinctly separate from similar-sounding words like "elicit," even though they are often confused due to their pronunciation. Here's a look at the development of "illicit":

1. Latin Roots: "Illicit" derives from the Latin word "illicitus," which means unlawful or not permitted. It is formed from the prefix "il-" (not) added to "licitus," the past participle of "licēre," which means to be permitted or allowed.
2. Etymological Development: The Latin root "licēre" is associated with legality and permission, thus "illicitus" directly translates to "not allowed" or "forbidden." This ties directly into the word's modern meaning.
3. Introduction into English: "Illicit" entered the English language in the early 17th century. It maintained its Latin meaning, denoting something that is not legally permitted or sanctioned.
4. Modern Usage: In contemporary English, "illicit" is primarily used to describe actions, activities, or things that are illegal or disapproved of by societal norms and laws. It is often used in legal, social, and ethical contexts.
5. Current Connotations: Today, "illicit" commonly appears in discussions about law and ethics, such as in terms related to illicit drugs, illicit relationships, or illicit trade. It implies a breach of legal or moral standards.

The history of "illicit" reflects its strong ties to legal and ethical frameworks, stemming from its Latin origins. It serves as a clear example of how language can carry forward legal and moral concepts through centuries, maintaining a clear link to its roots in terms of both form and meaning. (250 words)

Humanized Text on Illicit

"Illicit" has distinct origins and development:

1. Latin Roots: "Illicit" derives from the Latin word "illicitus," meaning unlawful or not permitted. It is formed from the prefix "il-" (not) added to "licitus," the past participle of "licēre," meaning to be permitted or allowed.
2. Etymological Development: The Latin root "licēre" is associated with legality and permission, thus "illicitus" directly translates to "not allowed" or "forbidden."
3. Introduction into English: "Illicit" entered the English language in the early 17th century with its Latin meaning maintained.
4. Modern Usage: In contemporary English, "illicit" is primarily used to describe actions or activities that are illegal or disapproved of by societal norms and laws.
5. Current Connotations: "Illicit" commonly appears in discussions about law and ethics, implying a breach of legal or moral standards.

The history of "illicit" reflects its strong ties to legal and ethical frameworks, stemming from its Latin origins. (148 words)

Effect of Humanizing the AI Text on Illicit

Humanization has significantly impacted the AI text, making it more concise through the elimination of repetition. In fact, humanization has reduced the word count from 250 words to 148 words—or by more than 40 percent—without sacrificing any of the original AI text’s intent or meaning.

Whether it’s for elicit or illicit, the best AI humanizer does, in fact, turn out to be a human. So, if you need any help to humanize your AI text, don’t wait to get started on Editly.