Edify
/ˈɛdəˌfaɪ/
verbC1
Definition
Edify means to help someone learn good things, especially about right and wrong or how to think better. It is often used when someone teaches in a way that improves a person's mind or character, not just giving facts but also making them better people.
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See It in Action
To improve someone's mind or character by teaching good values or knowledge.
- •The teacher’s stories edify the students by teaching kindness.
- •Books can edify readers by sharing important life lessons.
- •His speech was meant to edify the audience, not just entertain them.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "edify" like "teach," but with a focus on making someone better inside, not just giving information.
- ✓Picture a wise teacher helping a student understand how to be kind and honest, not just how to solve math problems.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when a story or lesson makes you want to be a better person.
- ✓Sounds like "ED-uh-fy" → imagine someone adding "ed" (education) and "ify" (to make), so it means "to make educated or better."
- ✓Think of a mentor or a guide in a story who helps the hero learn important life lessons.
- ✓NOT like "inform" (just giving facts), edify means improving the heart and mind.
- ✓NOT like "scold" (telling someone they are wrong), edify is gentle and positive teaching.
Try Other Words
- •Educate: to give knowledge or skill (Use when focusing on general learning, not only moral or personal growth)
- •Instruct: to teach or explain (Use when giving clear directions or lessons)
- •Enlighten: to give deeper understanding or insight (Use when focusing on making someone understand important ideas or truths)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ed-" (related to education) + "-ify" (a suffix meaning "to make" or "to cause")
- •Etymology: From Latin "aedificare," meaning "to build" or "construct," originally about building houses, now used metaphorically for building knowledge or character
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1500s to mean building up a person’s mind or morals
- •Modern usage: Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe teaching that improves a person deeply, especially morally or intellectually
Reflect & Connect
•How can stories or lessons edify people in ways that simple facts cannot?
•Can edifying someone sometimes be difficult if they do not want to change? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.The teacher’s goal was to edify students ___ good values and respect for others.
2.When a book edifies a reader, it often ___ their thoughts about life.
3.Edify is different from just giving information because it focuses on ___ the person's character.
4.Parents often try to edify their children by ___ examples of kindness and honesty.
5.A speech meant to edify usually ___ the audience to think deeply and act better.
6.Unlike scolding, to edify someone you ___ positive and helpful lessons.
7.When a story edifies, it can ___ the listener to feel inspired and motivated.