EDIFY
enlighten, edify
(verb) make understand; “Can you enlighten me--I don’t understand this proposal”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
edify (third-person singular simple present edifies, present participle edifying, simple past and past participle edified)
(now rare) To build, construct.
(transitive) To instruct or improve morally or intellectually.
Anagrams
• deify
Source: Wiktionary
Ed"i*fy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Edified; p. pr. & vb. n. Edifying.]
Etym: [F. Ă©difier, L. aedificare; aedes a building, house, orig., a
fireplace (akin to Gr. idh to kindle, OHG. eit funeral pile, AS. ad,
OIr. aed fire) + facere to make. See Fact, -fy.]
1. To build; to construct. [Archaic]
There was a holy chapel edified. Spenser.
2. To instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious
knowledge; to teach.
It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would
either edify or enlighten the public. Gibbon.
3. To teach or persuade. [Obs.] Bacon.
Ed"i*fy, v. i.
Definition: To improve. [R.] Swift.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition