[ed.i.fy] vt -fied ; -fy.ing [ME, fr. MF edifier, fr. LL & L; LL aedificare to instruct or improve spiritually, fr. L, to erect a house, fr. aedes temple, house; akin to OE ad funeral pyre, L aestas summer] (14c) 1 archaic a: build b: establish
2: to instruct and improve esp. in moral and religious knowledge: uplift; also: enlighten 2, inform