edify

ed·i·fy | \ ˈe-də-ˌfī

How to pronounce edify (audio)

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edified; edifying

Definition of edify

transitive verb

1 : to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge : uplift also : enlighten, inform

2 archaic

Synonyms Edify Has Latin Roots Example Sentences Learn More about edify

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Edify Has Latin Roots

The Latin noun aedes, meaning "house" or "temple," is the root of aedificare, a verb meaning "to erect a house." Generations of speakers built on that meaning, and by the Late Latin period, the verb had gained the figurative sense of "to instruct or improve spiritually." The word eventually passed through Anglo-French before Middle English speakers adopted it as edify during the 14th century. Two of its early meanings, "to build" and "to establish," are now considered archaic; the only current sense of edify is essentially the same as that figurative meaning in Late Latin, "to instruct and improve in moral and religious knowledge."

Examples of edify in a Sentence

These books will both entertain and edify readers. a family-oriented show that tried to edify the television audience as well as entertain it

Recent Examples on the Web So be intentional about edifying your mind, body, and spirit. — Ashley Mcdonough, Essence, "Laid Off? On Forced Funemployment? Now Is The Time To Reset," 12 Nov. 2019 At a time when Britain is fighting rising Islamophobia, the outpouring of affection for an Egyptian-national superstar who is proud and public about his Muslim faith has been edifying. — Grant Wahl, SI.com, "After Remarkable Rise, Mohamed Salah Shoulders Egypt's World Cup Hopes," 29 May 2018 Architecture to me is successful when the community is empowered by it, is edified by it, and is elevated by it. — Steven Litt, cleveland.com, "Q&A with David Adjaye, designer of Smithsonian's African American museum," 13 May 2018 Take, as an edifying out-of-town example, the Atlantic Casino Hilton Hotel, built in 1985. — Yvonne Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, "The Wynn mess, and the Mass. Gaming Commission’s big problem," 4 Apr. 2018 The problem is, the debate usually devolves into a facile back and forth that edifies no one. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Don't bother Doc. He's mock-drafting the 2018 NFL Draft. Pay attention, mobsters.," 21 Mar. 2018 And the thought of the administration’s settling for second best out of expediency, or vamping indefinitely until Maestro Right should miraculously appear, wasn’t edifying. — John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Muti re-ups at CSO through 2022, announces a 2018-19 season honoring Armistice centennial," 30 Jan. 2018 The past several weeks haven’t been particularly edifying for the health of American culture. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Our Dumbed-Down Culture," 13 Oct. 2017 Reality agreed to date her high-school boyfriend, Carlos, on certain conditions intended to improve and to edify. — Kerry Howley, Daily Intelligencer, "‘The World’s Biggest Terrorist Has a Pikachu Bedspread’," 22 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'edify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Edify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/edify. Accessed 25 Feb. 2020.

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