'Edifying' definitions:

Definition of 'edifying'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement; "the paintings in the church served an edifying purpose even for those who could not read" [syn: edifying, enlightening] [ant: unedifying, unenlightening]

Definition of 'Edifying'

From: GCIDE
  • Edifying \Ed"i*fy`ing\, a. Instructing; improving; as, an edifying conversation. -- {Ed"i*fy`ing*ly}, adv. -- {Ed"i*fy`ing*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Edifying'

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 'edifying'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Edifying'