edificatory

[ ih-dif-i-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ed-uh-fi-key-tuh-ree ]

adjective

1. intended or serving to edify.

Word History and Origins

Origin of edificatory¹

1640–50; < Late Latin aedificātōrius edifying, equivalent to aedificā ( re ) to edify + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

No doubt the First Rule, which is fully four times as long, gives a better picture of St Francis’s mind and character; the later Rule has been formed from the earlier by the elimination of the frequent scripture texts and the edificatory element; but the greater portion of it stood almost verbally in the earlier.

From Project Gutenberg

Since they were designed to meet the needs of the people and had a directly edificatory aim, they are naturally characterized by expansion and paraphrase, and thus afford invaluable illustrations of the methods of Jewish interpretation and of the development of Jewish thought.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, we must remember that we are not here dealing with an account set down by the patient herself, but with an edificatory inscription put up by the temple officials.

From Project Gutenberg