I.to erect a building, to build; and in gen., to build, raise, erect, or establish any thing.
I. Lit.: aedificare cum sit proprie aedem facere, ponitur tamen καταχρηστικῶς in omni genere constructionis, Fest. p. 13 Müll.; hence in the first signif. for the most part
(α).
Absol.: “aedificare diu cogitare oportet,” Cato, R. R. 3, 1: “ecce aedificat,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 56: “ad quem (usum) accommodanda est aedificandi descriptio,” Cic. Off. 1, 39, 138; id. ib. 2, 23, 83: “tribus locis aedifico, reliqua reconcinno,” id. Q. Fr. 2, 6: “lautius, id Leg. 2, 1, 3: belle,” id. Att. 9, 13 al.: “accuratius ad frigora atque aestus vitandos,” Caes. B. G. 6, 22: “diruit, aedificat, mutat quadrata rotundis,” Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 100; so id. S. 2, 3, 308.—
II. In gen., to build, construct, etc.: “navim,” Plaut. Mer. prol. 87 piscinas, Varr. R. R. 3, 17, 5: “navem,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 18: “urbem,” id. ib. 2, 4, 53; so Vulg. Exod. 1, 11: “oppida,” ib. 2 Para. 26, 6: “turrim,” ib. Matt. 21, 3: “murum,” ib. 2 Para. 33, 14: “porticum,” Cic. Dom. 43: “hortos,” id. Att. 9, 13: “equum,” Verg. A. 2, 16: “mundum,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 25: “tot adhuc compagibus altum aedificat caput,” i.e. makes it, by bands and hair ornaments, a high tower, Juv. 6, 501.—
III. Fig., to build up, establish: “rem publicam,” Cic. Fam. 9, 2.—And (eccl.) in a religious sense, to build up, instruct, edify.
