edifice

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An abstract structure, such as a school of thought, an argument, a theoretical position, etc.

   The real difficulty was moral, not intellectual. Was the whole edifice of Ptolemy to be destroyed?

2. 2
   noun

   a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

3. 3
   noun

   A building; a structure; an architectural fabric, especially a large and spectacular one.

Etymology

From Middle English edifice, from Old French edifice, a classical borrowing of Latin aedificium (“building”), derived from aedificāre (“to build, establish”) (whence also English edify).