/ˈɛdɪfaɪ/
OriginFrom Old French edifier (“to build, to edify”), from Latin aedificare (“build”).
- archaicTo build, construct.
“That Castle was most goodly edifyde, / And plaste for pleasure nigh that forrest syde […]”
- transitiveTo instruct or improve morally or intellectually.
“January 23, 1783, Edward Gibbon, letter to Dr. Priestley
It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would either edify or enlighten the public.”
“That they ought to edify one another by maintaining and promoting the knowledge of truth.”
“frustrate the best endeavours in the edifying of the church”
Formsedifies(present, singular, third-person) · edifying(participle, present) · edified(participle, past) · edified(past) · ædify(alternative, archaic)