1.
[syn: enlighten, edify]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Edify \Ed"i*fy\, v. i.
To improve. [R.] --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Edify \Ed"i*fy\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Edified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Edifying.] [F. ['e]difier, L. aedificare; aedes a building,
house, orig., a fireplace (akin to Gr. ? to burn, Skr. idh to
kindle, OHG. eit funeral pile, AS. [=a]d, OIr. aed fire) +
facere to make. See Fact, -fy.]
1. To build; to construct. [Archaic]
[1913 Webster]
There was a holy chapel edified. --Spenser.
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2. To instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious
knowledge; to teach.
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It does not appear probable that our dispute [about
miracles] would either edify or enlighten the
public. --Gibbon.
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3. To teach or persuade. [Obs.] --Bacon.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
edify
v 1: make understand; "Can you enlighten me--I don't understand
this proposal" [syn: enlighten, edify]