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edify Definition

edi·fy (edi fī′)

transitive verb -·fied′, -·fy′·ing

  1. to instruct in such a way as to improve, enlighten, or uplift morally, spiritually, or intellectually
  2. Archaic to build; establish

Etymology: ME edifien < OFr edifier < L aedificare, to build, construct (in LL(Ec) to edify) < aedes, a dwelling, house, temple, orig., hearth, fireplace < IE base *ai-dh-, to burn (> Gr aithein, to burn, OE ad, pyre) + -ficare < facere, to make, do

edify Related Forms

edi·fi′er noun

edify Synonyms

edify

v.

edify Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • body: Like the joints and bands, the gifts of the Spirit for the edifying of the Body of Christ ( Eph.
  • church: Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Object

  • spectacle: Not an edifying spectacle, and all the stranger given Moore's confidence of an anti-war vote turning out for a pro-war candidate.
  • church: Love for others, that's why he says ' he that prophesies edifies the church ' .
  • other: The word of Christ is to dwell in us in order that we may be useful for edifying others.
  • tale: They were meant to be edifying tales for infants and immature grown ups.
  • experience: To move, affect and stir the passions is the main aim of the baroque with the ultimate goal of an edifying experience.
  • sight: It's not an edifying sight, particularly spread over seven years.

Preposition: for

everyone: We are to do only what is edifying for everyone.

Modifying Another Word

  • particularly: I do not find that kind of working in an audit report particularly edifying.
  • very: For example the Acta of many of the early martyrs survive intact and are very edifying and very moving.
  • not: The prospect of that victory being sacrificed now is not edifying to the General Staff, who have a strong say in Turkish politics.
  • much: His sermons are well attended; and his parishioners are as much edified by his good example as by his excellent discourses.
  • hardly: For the rest of us, being around those in a drug state is hardly edifying.
  • spiritually: Ironically, he seems to applaud their ' duplicity because it will, his characters believe, be spiritually edifying.

Browse dictionary entries near edify

  1. edifice
  2. edification
  3. edict
  4. edible
  5. EDI
  6. edh
  7. edgy
  8. edging
  9. Edgeworth, Maria
  10. Edgeworth
  1. Edinburgh
  2. Edinburgh, Prince Philip, Duke of
  3. Edirne
  4. Edison
  5. Edison, Thomas A.
  6. Edison, Thomas Alva
  7. edit
  8. Edith
  9. edition
  10. editor