ed·i·fice \ˈedəfə̇s\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin aedificium, from aedificare to construct — more at edify 1.: building; especially: a large or massive structure (as a church or government building) 2.: something built up in a manner analogous to the erection of an architectural structure < on this argument he based his edifice of faith — A.N.Whitehead > < does not feel that the whole edifice of science has collapsed and crumbled — G.B.Shaw >