Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions History Colors (New!) Easter eggs (New!)

Literary notes about edify (AI summary)

The word "edify" in literature has traditionally conveyed the idea of moral or intellectual improvement through instruction. In early religious writings such as The Imitation of Christ, edifying discourse was depicted as a means to cultivate humility and devotion in one’s company, encouraging discussions that uplifted the spirit [1]. Alexander Pope later evolved its usage by suggesting that while corrective shocks might be necessary for some, they could simultaneously edify others, reflecting the multifaceted nature of learning and transformation [2]. In more narrative texts, such as Macdonell’s account of Sanskrit literature, characters share tales with the aim of edifying each other, reinforcing personal viewpoints through mutual instruction [3]. However, as seen in works like Uncle Tom’s Cabin, there is also a recognition that not all subjects or methods have the capacity to edify every reader, especially when detached from their religious context [4]. Similarly, discussions in texts on social reform remark on how certain types of questions, if not properly measured, may fail to edify audiences, pointing to the delicate balance between inquiry and instruction [5].
  1. Let thy company be the humble and the simple, the devout and the gentle, and let thy discourse be concerning things which edify.
    — from The Imitation of Christ by à Kempis Thomas
  2. What shocks one part will edify the rest, Nor with one system can they all be blest.
    — from An Essay on Man; Moral Essays and Satires by Alexander Pope
  3. The characters of the main story in turn relate various tales to edify one another or to prove the correctness of their own special views.
    — from A History of Sanskrit Literature by Arthur Anthony Macdonell
  4. You know I’m such a graceless dog that these religious aspects of such subjects don’t edify me much.
    — from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
  5. Their women, who had not been previously instructed like the men, were very naturally guilty of asking questions which did not edify the assembly.
    — from History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Threepeat Redux