edify
verb /ˈedɪfaɪ/
/ˈedɪfaɪ/
[intransitive, transitive] (formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they edify | /ˈedɪfaɪ/ /ˈedɪfaɪ/ |
| he / she / it edifies | /ˈedɪfaɪz/ /ˈedɪfaɪz/ |
| past simple edified | /ˈedɪfaɪd/ /ˈedɪfaɪd/ |
| past participle edified | /ˈedɪfaɪd/ /ˈedɪfaɪd/ |
| -ing form edifying | /ˈedɪfaɪɪŋ/ /ˈedɪfaɪɪŋ/ |
- edify somebody to improve people’s minds or characters by teaching them about something
- It is not clear whether the purpose is to edify, or simply to make money.
- No doubt Hamish will edify us on the subject.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French edifier, from Latin aedificare ‘build’, from aedis ‘dwelling’ + facere ‘make’ (compare with edifice). The word originally meant ‘construct a building’, also ‘strengthen’, hence to “build up” morally.