edify

[ ed-uh-fahy ]
/ ˈɛd ə faɪ /

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

OTHER WORDS FROM edify

Example sentences from the Web for edifying

British Dictionary definitions for edifying

edify
/ (ˈɛdɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied

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

Derived forms of edify

edifier, noun edifying, adjective edifyingly, adverb

Word Origin for edify

C14: from Old French edifier, from Latin aedificāre to construct, from aedēs a dwelling, temple + facere to make