To 'elicit' means to:

To 'elicit' means to derive or draw out information, feelings, or a response from someone, often by asking questions or creating a situation that encourages that response. When you elicit information, you are actively engaging someone in a way that prompts them to provide the details or insights you seek.

Choosing 'derive by reasoning' captures the essence of how elicitation works; it involves reasoning and inquiry to arrive at a conclusion or gain deeper understanding through interaction. In this context, eliciting requires a thoughtful approach where you may analyze the situation or propose questions that lead to gaining that information.

The other options focus on actions that either obscure or do not gather information, which is not related to the process of eliciting.