| 释义 |
▪ I. ˈedifying, vbl. n.
[f. edify v. + -ing1.]
†1. The action or process of building; also concr. a building. Obs.
1432–50tr. Higden (1865) I. 411 At Brehenoc is a water..where a man may see in clere tymes meruellous edifienges. 1513Test. Ebor. v. (Surtees) 49 To the edifying of a portche to the church of Est Drayton xxs. 1517R. Torkington Pilgr. (1884) 32 Ther [the Sarrazins'] edifying wold not stonde in no wyse. 1602W. Fulbecke 2nd Pt. Parall. 13 The foundation, the edifying, and the endowment [of a church].
2. Spiritual instruction and improvement.
1509Fisher Fun. Serm. Marg. C'tess Richmond (1708) 10 To the edifyinge of other, by the example of her. 1542–3Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII, i, Al maner of persons..may reade..the bible..for their owne edifieng. 1611Bible Pref. 5 For the..edifying of the vnlearned. 1705Stanhope Paraphr. (1709) IV. 542 My..End is Godly Edifying.
▪ II. ˈedifying, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
†1. That builds. Obs.
1662Fuller Worthies (1840) II. 499 One demolishing hammer can undo more in a day than ten edifying axes can advance in a month.
2. Tending to produce moral and spiritual improvement; instructive. In mod. use often ironical.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 1 b, What so euer ye fynde therin, good and edifyenge, gyue laude and praysynge to god therfore. 1651Hobbes Leviath. iv. xlv. 361 Their Conversation..might..be..Edifying to others. 1767Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. I. v. 186 How edifying to the soul is this generous sensibility! 1813Syd. Smith Wks. (1867) I. 224 The humiliating and disgusting, but at the same time most edifying spectacle. 1872Morley Voltaire (1886) 41 Voltaire's spirit may be little edifying to us.
Hence ˈedifyingly adv., in an instructive or improving manner; in mod. use often ironical.
1662Sparrow tr. Behme's Theosoph. Lett. 3 He..might thereby..edifyingly..quicken himself in a Christian brotherly Union. 1702Echard Eccl. Hist. (1710) 305 Not so well or edifyingly instructed. 1876Contemp. Rev. XXVII. 969 The sermon was edifyingly platitudinarian. |