A large, impressive building, often with an imposing or grand appearance.
From Latin 'aedificium' meaning 'building', from 'aedificare' meaning 'to build' ('aedes' building + 'facere' to make). It came into English through French, keeping a sense of grandeur.
We rarely call a small building an edifice; the word itself adds a layer of drama and importance. People also talk about 'the edifice of law' or 'science' to mean a huge, complex structure of ideas.
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