Inform vs Edify - What's the difference?
inform | edify | Related terms |
(archaic) To instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge).
To communicate knowledge to.
* Spenser
* Shakespeare
To impart information or knowledge.
To act as an informer; denounce.
To give form or character to; to inspire (with a given quality); to affect, influence (with a pervading principle, idea etc.).
* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=(Gary Younge)
, volume=188, issue=26, page=18, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly)
, title= * Dryden
* Prior
(obsolete) To make known, wisely and/or knowledgeably.
(obsolete) To direct, guide.
(archaic) To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.
* Shakespeare
Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.
To build, construct.
* , III.i:
To instruct or improve morally or intellectually.
* Gibbon
* 1813 , The Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, Vol. VI , page 455
Inform is a related term of edify.
In lang=en terms the difference between inform and edify
is that inform is to give form or character to; to inspire (with a given quality); to affect, influence (with a pervading principle, idea etc) while edify is to instruct or improve morally or intellectually.As verbs the difference between inform and edify
is that inform is (archaic|transitive) to instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge) while edify is to build, construct.As an adjective inform
is without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.inform
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) informen, enformen, from (etyl) enformer, .Alternative forms
* (l) (obsolete)Verb
(en verb)- For he would learn their business secretly, / And then inform his master hastily.
- I am informed thoroughly of the cause.
Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution, passage=WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets.}}
- Let others better mould the running mass / Of metals, and inform the breathing brass.
- Breath informs this fleeting frame.
- It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes.
Synonyms
* acquaint, apprise, notify * (act as informer) dob, name names, peach, snitchDerived terms
* informant * information * informative * informatory * informed * informer * misinform * uninformedEtymology 2
(etyl) (lena) informisAdjective
(-)- (Cotton)
Anagrams
*edify
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic)Verb
(en-verb)- That Castle was most goodly edifyde , / And plaste for pleasure nigh that forrest syde
- It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would either edify or enlighten the public.
- That they ought to edify one another by maintaining and promoting the knowledge of truth.
- (Francis Bacon)