Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

edify

/ˈɛdɪfaɪ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.96 in modern English

Syllables: ed-i-fy
IPA: /ˈɛdɪfaɪ/

12

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To build, construct.

Archaic

verb

To instruct or improve morally or intellectually.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"That Castle was most goodly edifyde, / And plaste for pleasure nigh that forrest syde […]"
"frustrate the best endeavours in the edifying of the church"
"January 23, 1783, Edward Gibbon, letter to Dr. Priestley It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would either edify or enlighten the public."
"That they ought to edify one another by maintaining and promoting the knowledge of truth."

Etymology

From Old French edifier (“to build, to edify”), from Latin aedificare (“build”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *h₂eydʰ-, *dʰeh₁-

Usage

Inflected Forms

edifies (present, singular) edifying (participle, present) edified (participle, past) edified (past) ædify (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

disedify reedify

Frequently Paired Words

edification edificator edifice edifier edifying

Synonyms

enlighten

Questions

How do you pronounce edify?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɛdɪfaɪ/.
What does edify mean?: To build, construct.
Where does edify come from?: From Old French edifier (“to build, to edify”), from Latin aedificare (“build”).

How to pronounce edify

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “edify”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɛdɪfaɪ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “edify”.
Repeat and practice — Say “edify” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.