Part 629

It stands as an edict in destiny.

Shak.

Edict of Nantes (French Hist.), an edict issued by Henry IV. (A. D. 1598), giving toleration to Protestants. Its revocation by Louis XIV. (A. D. 1685) was followed by terrible persecutions and the expatriation of thousands of French Protestants.

Syn. -- Decree; proclamation; law; ordinance; statute; rule; order; manifesti; command. See Law.

E*dic"tal (?), a. Relating to, or consisting of, edicts; as, the Roman edictal law.

Ed"i*fi*cant (?), a. [L. aedificans, -antis, p. pr. of aedificare. See Edify.] Building; constructing. [R.] Dugard.

Ed`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. aedificatio: cf. F. édification. See Edify.] 1. The act of edifying, or the state of being edified; a building up, especially in a moral or spiritual sense; moral, intellectual, or spiritual improvement; instruction.

The assured edification of his church.

Bp. Hall.

Out of these magazines I shall supply the town with what may tend to their edification.

Addison.

2. A building or edifice. [Obs.] Bullokar.

Ed"i*fi*ca`to*ry (?), a. Tending to edification. Bp. Hall.

Ed"i*fice (?), n. [L. aedificium, fr. aedificare: cf. F. édifice. See Edify.] A building; a structure; an architectural fabric; -- chiefly applied to elegant houses, and other large buildings; as, a palace, a church, a statehouse.

Ed`i*fi"cial (?), a. [L. aedificialis.] Pertaining to an edifice; structural.

Ed"i*fi`er (?), n. 1. One who builds. [Obs.]

2. One who edifies, builds up, or strengthens another by moral or religious instruction.

Ed"i*fy (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Edified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Edifying.] [F. édifier, L. aedificare; aedes a building, house, orig., a fireplace (akin to Gr. &?; to burn, Skr. idh to kindle, OHG. eit funeral pile, AS. d, OIr. aed fire) + facere to make. See Fact, -fy.] 1. To build; to construct. [Archaic]

There was a holy chapel edified.

Spenser.

2. To instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious knowledge; to teach.

It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would either edify or enlighten the public.

Gibbon.

3. To teach or persuade. [Obs.] Bacon.

Ed"i*fy, v. i. To improve. [R.] Swift.

Ed"i*fy`ing (?), a. Instructing; improving; as, an edifying conversation. -- Ed"i*fy`ing*ly, adv. -- Ed"i*fy`ing*ness, n.

E"dile (?), n. [L. aedilis: cf. F. édile. Cf. Ædile.] (Rom. Antiq.) See Ædile.

E"dile*ship, n. The office of ædile. T. Arnold.