edify: [14] As its close relative edifice [14] suggests, edify has to do literally with ‘building’. And in fact its underlying etymological sense is ‘building a hearth’. That was the original sense of Latin aedis. Gradually, though, it was extended, in a familiar metaphorical transition, from ‘hearth’ to ‘home’ and ‘dwelling’. Addition of a verbal element related to facere ‘make’ produced aedificāre ‘build a house’, or simply ‘build’.
Its figurative application to ‘instruction’ or ‘enlightenment’ took place in Latin, and has no doubt been reinforced in English (which acquired the word from Old French edifier) by its accidental similarity to educate.
edify (v.)
mid-14c., "to build, construct," also, in figurative use, "to build up morally or in faith," from Old French edefiier (12c., Modern French édifier) "build; install; teach, instruct (morally)," from Latin aedificare "to build, construct," in Late Latin "improve spiritually, instruct" (see edifice). Related: Edified; edifying.
实用例句
1. They tried to edify the child with music.
他们试图用音乐陶冶这孩子.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. TV should attempt to edify the masses.
电视应该试着去启迪大众.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. Tea is fitness, disease , and the treatment, rich appreciation taste edify sentiment.
茶有健身 、 治疾之药物疗效, 又富欣赏情趣,可陶冶情操.
来自互联网
4. The purpose is to widen train thought, edify somewhat to the reader.
目的是拓宽思路, 对读者有所启迪.
来自互联网
5. In his book the function of television was to edify, not to entertain.
