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edifying

 - 3 dictionary results

ed⋅i⋅fy

  [ed-uh-fahy]
Use edifying in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.
to instruct or benefit, esp. morally or spiritually; uplift: religious paintings that edify the viewer.
Origin:
1300–50; ME edifien < AF, OF edifier < L aedificāre to build, equiv. to aedi- (s. of aedes) house, temple + -ficāre -fy

Related forms:
ed⋅i⋅fi⋅er, noun
ed⋅i⋅fy⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To edifying
ed·i·fy   (ěd'ə-fī')   
tr.v.   ed·i·fied, ed·i·fy·ing, ed·i·fies
To instruct especially so as to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.

[Middle English edifien, from Old French edifier, from Late Latin aedificāre, to instruct spiritually, from Latin, to build; see edifice.]
ed'i·fi'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

edify 
1340, a fig. use, from O.Fr. edifier, from L. ædificare "to build, construct," in L.L. "improve spiritually, instruct" (see edifice).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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