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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, adjectiveWords nearby edify
Edict of Nantes, Edie, edification, edificatory, edifice, edify, edifying, edile, Edina, Edinburg, Edinburgh
Dictionary.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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