edify

[ed-uh-fahy]

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.

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. 2019

Related Words for edified

uplift, enlighten, teach, educate, improve

Examples from the Web for edified

Historical Examples of edified

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.
American Missionary - Volume 50, No. 9, September, 1896
Various

British Dictionary definitions for edified

edify

verb -fies, -fying or -fied

(tr) to improve the morality, intellect, etc, of, esp by instruction

Derived Formsedifier, nounedifying, adjectiveedifyingly, adverb

Word 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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for edified

edify

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.