edify

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 12, 2021 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>edify</strong> &#149; \ED-uh-fye\&nbsp; &#149; <em>verb</em><br /> <p><em>Edify</em> means "to uplift, enlighten, or inform."</p> <p>// The speaker's words <em>edified</em> the graduating class, giving them hope and encouragement.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/edify">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"This is our first theatrical performance where our theatre is now complete. Young audience members will be <em>edified</em> by being around lots of amazing women's stories, and the old ones will be reminded of the progress that we have made." — Cate Belleveau, quoted in <em>The Bemidji (Minnesota) Pioneer</em>, 29 Sept. 2021</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p><em>Edify</em> comes from the Latin verb <em>aedificare</em>, meaning "to instruct or improve spiritually"; it is based on <em>aedes</em>, the word for "temple." <em>Edify</em> shares the spiritual meaning of its Latin root, but it is also used in general contexts to refer to the act of instructing in a way that improves the mind or character overall.</p> <br /><br /> </p> </font>