edify
[ ed-uh-fahy ]
/ ˈɛd əˌfaɪ /
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verb (used with object), ed·i·fied, ed·i·fy·ing.
to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift: religious paintings that edify the viewer.
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Origin of edify
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English edifien, from Anglo-French, Old French edifier, from Latin aedificāre “to build,” equivalent to aedi- (stem of aedes ) “house, temple” + -ficāre -fy
OTHER WORDS FROM edify
ed·i·fi·er, nounnon·ed·i·fied, adjectivere·ed·i·fy, verb (used with object), re·ed·i·fied, re·ed·i·fy·ing.un·ed·i·fied, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use edify in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for edify
edify
/ (ˈɛdɪˌfaɪ) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied
(tr) to improve the morality, intellect, etc, of, esp by instruction
Derived forms of edify
edifier, nounedifying, adjectiveedifyingly, adverbWord Origin for edify
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
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