different between edify vs encouragement

English

Alternative forms

• ædify (archaic)

Etymology

From Old French edifier (“to build, to edify”), from Latin aedificare (“build”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??d?fa?/

Verb

edify (third-person singular simple present edifies, present participle edifying, simple past and past participle edified)

1. (now rare) To build, construct.
2. (transitive) To instruct or improve morally or intellectually.
   • January 23, 1783, Edward Gibbon, letter to Dr. Priestley

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

   • 1813, The Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, Vol. VI, page 455

     That they ought to edify one another by maintaining and promoting the knowledge of truth.

   • 1641, Francis Bacon, A Wise and Moderate Discourse, Concerning Church-Affaires

     frustrate the best endeavours in the edifying of the church

Related terms

• edification
• edificator
• edifice
• edifier
• edifying

Translations

Anagrams

• deify

English

Alternative forms

• incouragement (archaic)

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French encoragement.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?n?k???d?m?nt]

Noun

encouragement (countable and uncountable, plural encouragements)

1. The act of encouraging
2. Something that incites, supports, promotes, protects or advances; incentive
   • 1904, Edward Verrall Lucas, Highways and Byways in Sussex Chapter 2

     even their arch-enemy the gamekeeper is beginning reluctantly, but gradually, to acquiesce in the general belief of their innocence and utility, I cannot help indulging the hope that this bird will eventually meet with that general encouragement and protection to which its eminent services so richly entitle it.

3. Words or actions that increase someone's confidence
   • 7 January 2017, Adharanand Finn writing in The Guardian, The 24-hour race: 'It is a battle with your mind'

     Diana Celeiro has come all the way from Argentina for the race. It’s her second time here. Her husband, Gustavo, acts as her support crew. Most of the runners have someone who stands diligently by the track watching, offering encouragement, preparing snacks or helping with any issues that arise, from blisters to emotional breakdowns.

   • 1776, Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, Chapter 4

     If I live, an' please your honour, but once to get through it, I will never tell it again, quoth Trim, either to man, woman, or child--Poo--poo! said my uncle Toby--but with accents of such sweet encouragement did he utter it, that the corporal went on with his story with more alacrity than ever.

4. The feeling of being encouraged

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:praise

Translations

References

encouragement in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

French

Etymology

From encourager +? -ment.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.ku.?a?.m??/

Noun

encouragement m (plural encouragements)

1. An encouragement

Further reading

• “encouragement” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).