Edificatory

/ɛdɪˈfɪkətɔri/ adjective

Definition

Tending to edify or instruct; serving to improve someone morally or intellectually.

Etymology

From edificat- plus the Latin suffix -ory (also -orius), meaning 'serving to' or 'relating to.' This variant is rarer than edificative but means essentially the same thing, emphasizing purpose or function.

Kelly Says

While edificatory is rarely used today, it shows how Latin-loving scholars of the medieval and Renaissance periods loved creating multiple adjective forms to express subtle shades of meaning—think of it as the fancy cousin of edificative.

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