'Edify' definitions:
Definition of 'edify'
(from WordNet)
verb
Make understand; "Can you enlighten me--I don't understand this proposal" [syn: enlighten, edify]
Definition of 'Edify'
From: GCIDE
- Edify \Ed"i*fy\, v. i. To improve. [R.] --Swift. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Edify'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious knowledge; to teach. [1913 Webster]
- It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would either edify or enlighten the public. --Gibbon. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To teach or persuade. [Obs.] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'edify'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- acculturate,
- advance,
- ameliorate,
- amend,
- better,
- boost,
- bring forward,
- broaden the mind,
- catechize,
- civilize,
- demonstrate,
- direct,
- educate,
- elevate,
- elucidate,
- emend,
- enhance,
- enlighten,
- enrich,
- fatten,
- favor,
- forward,
- foster,
- give instruction,
- give lessons in,
- go straight,
- ground,
- guide,
- illume,
- illumine,
- improve,
- improve upon,
- inform,
- instruct,
- irradiate,
- lard,
- lift,
- make an improvement,
- meliorate,
- mend,
- nurture,
- open the eyes,
- promote,
- raise,
- reeducate,
- refine upon,
- reform,
- school,
- set right,
- sharpen the wits,
- show,
- show how,
- socialize,
- straighten out,
- teach,
- teach a lesson,
- teach the rudiments,
- transfigure,
- transform,
- upgrade,
- uplift