- Today's Word
Edify
ED-uh-fye
Definition
(verb) To instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually.
Example
The speaker hoped his words would edify the audience, not just entertain them.
Fun Fact
Edify comes from Latin aedificare, meaning “to build”—and that metaphor still holds. When you edify someone, you’re building them up with knowledge or insight. It’s often used in religious or philosophical contexts, but also applies to writing, art, or film that challenges us to think more deeply. A TED Talk can be informative—but the really good ones? They edify.
(adjective) Relating to the philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is sure to exist; extremely self-focused or unaware of others.
His solipsistic worldview made genuine connection difficult—everything seemed to revolve around his own thoughts and perceptions.
From Latin solus (“alone”) + ipse (“self”), literally meaning “the self alone.”