a. ? Obs. [f. L. ædificāt- ppl. stem of ædificāre + -IVE.] Edifying; adapted to promote spiritual improvement.
c. 1410. Love, Bonavent. Mirr., xxxviii. 78 (Gibbs MS.). Gostly comforte of hem by hys edyfycatyf [W. de W., 1530 edificacyon] and holy wordes.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W.), I. xxvi. 24 a/1. His worde was edyfycatyff that they whom he endoctryned put in effecte … all his doctryne.
1530. R. Whitford, Worke for Household (1533), A. So that … it sholde be … edificatyve and profitable.
1634–46. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 328. Whilk exercises … proved verie edificative to those who were partakers of them.
Hence † Edificatively adv., in an edifying manner.
c. 1530[?]. (title) The Dialogues of Creatures moralysed, applyably and edificatyfly to euery mery and iocunde Mater.
