edifice

[ed-uh-fis] /ˈɛd ə fɪs/

noun

a building, especially one of large size or imposing appearance.

any large, complex system or organization.

Origin

1350-1400; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French < Latin aedificium, equivalent to aedific(āre) to build (see edify) + -ium -ium

Related forms

edificial

[ed-uh-fish-uh l] /ˌɛd əˈfɪʃ əl/ (Show IPA), adjective

unedificial, adjective

Synonyms

1. See building.

Examples from the web for edifice

The plans contemplate a substantial structure in the form of a wing to the present edifice.
The edifice was commenced in 1846 and completed in 1848.
On the east end of the campus is a new two-story edifice.
Grant's second inauguration in 1873 was in a specially constructed edifice that lacked heating.
Some fear its collapse will bring down the fragile edifice of the entire industry.
The whole edifice rests on a few fundamental principles that are inherent in us.
The entire edifice of our social and political system is starting to crumble.
The rambling ancient edifice had one entire wing fallen into ruins.
The edifice dates partly from the Norman period.
The lowermost layers of such an edifice may indeed be mere brick and mortar.

British Dictionary definitions for edifice

edifice

/ˈɛdɪfɪs/

noun

a building, esp a large or imposing one

a complex or elaborate institution or organization

Derived Forms

edificial (ˌɛdɪˈfɪʃəl) adjective

Word Origin

C14: from Old French, from Latin aedificium, from aedificāre to build; see edify

Word Origin and History for edifice

late 14c., from Old French edifice "building," from Latin aedificium "building," from aedificare "to erect a building," from aedis, variant of aedes "temple, sanctuary," usually a single edifice without partitions, also, in the plural, "dwelling house, building," originally "a place with a hearth" + the root of facere "to make" (see factitious).

Ædis is from PIE *aidh- "to burn" (cf. Greek aithein "to burn," Sanskrit inddhe "burst into flames," Old Irish aed "fire," Welsh aidd "heat, zeal," Old High German eit "funeral pile"), from root *ai- "to burn."