edify

Edify is a verb meaning to instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually; to enlighten or uplift. It is often used of education aimed at virtue, character, or spiritual development. The related noun edification refers to the act or result of edifying, or to the moral or intellectual uplift achieved.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin aedificare “to build,” via Old French edifier. In English, the sense shifted from physical construction to mental or moral cultivation. The modern sense appears in the early modern period, with attested usage from the 15th century onward.

Usage: Edify is relatively formal and can sound archaic in everyday speech. It commonly appears in religious, philosophical, or didactic writing. It takes a direct object: “The sermon edified the congregation.” The adjective edifying describes content that informs or uplifts morally; edification is the corresponding noun. In contemporary usage, speakers often opt for educate or instruct when referring to general learning, while edify emphasizes moral or spiritual uplift.

See also: Related terms include edification, edifying, education, and moral instruction.