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edify

[ed-uh-fahy]
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verb (used with object), ed·i·fied, ed·i·fy·ing.
  1. to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift: religious paintings that edify the viewer.
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Origin of edify

1300–50; Middle English edifien < Anglo-French, Old French edifier < Latin aedificāre to build, equivalent to aedi- (stem of aedes) house, temple + -ficāre -fy
Related formsed·i·fi·er, nouned·i·fy·ing·ly, adverbnon·ed·i·fied, adjectivere·ed·i·fy, verb (used with object), re·ed·i·fied, re·ed·i·fy·ing.un·ed·i·fied, adjectiveun·ed·i·fy·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for edified

Historical Examples

  • Listen for a moment to those gentlemen and you will be edified.

    The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete

    Emile Zola

  • However, I am edified to find you a gentleman of great learning and experience.

    The O'Ruddy

    Stephen Crane

  • And yet this is the picture-writing of the Aztecs, with which the world has been so edified for centuries.

    Mexico and its Religion

    Robert A. Wilson

  • The first night he confessed his sins, and they edified me not a little.

    Richard Carvel, Complete

    Winston Churchill

  • All who had the privilege of listening to it were cheered and edified.

British Dictionary definitions for edified

edify

verb -fies, -fying or -fied
  1. (tr) to improve the morality, intellect, etc, of, esp by instruction
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Derived Formsedifier, nounedifying, adjectiveedifyingly, adverb

Word Origin

C14: from Old French edifier, from Latin aedificāre to construct, from aedēs a dwelling, temple + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for edified

edify

v.

mid-14c., "to build, construct," also, in figurative use, "to build up morally or in faith," from Old French edefiier "build, install, teach, instruct (morally)," from Latin aedificare "to build, construct," in Late Latin "improve spiritually, instruct" (see edifice). Related: Edified; edifying.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper