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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Edify \Ed"i*fy\, v. i.
To improve. [R.] --Swift.
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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]
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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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