Definition of edify

The word "edify" originated in late Middle English, around the 14th century, and is derived from the Old French "edificer" meaning "to build up, to erect". The French word, in turn, came from the Latin "aedificare" which has two roots: "aed-", meaning "a place", and "facere", meaning "to make" or "to do". The primary meaning of "edify" is to build up or to instruct or teach in a moral or intellectual sense. It is often used in relation to communication, intended to enlighten, improve or otherwise benefit the listener or reader. In classical Latin, "aedificare" had a much wider meaning than its French and English derivatives. Besides its usage to denote construction, it was also commonly used in its abstract sense, signifying acts or processes that built up or reinforced something, metaphorically and metonymically. This definition evolved through the centuries, as new derivatives emerged from the French and English adaptations, coming to be associated primarily with the noun "edifice" and the verb "edify" respectively. Today, the verb "edify" is less commonly used than in previous centuries due to the decline in popularity of its associated literary genres, such as religious and academic discourse, where its usage was traditionally most prevalent. Nonetheless, the phrase continues to hold cultural and historical significance, with its meaning sometimes variously interpreted, according to the discipline or genre of discussion.