• Nourish

    Origin

    From Middle English, from Old French nouriss-, stem of one of the conjugated forms of norrir, from Latin nutrire ("to suckle, feed, foster, nourish, cherish, preserve, support").

    Full definition of nourish

    Noun

    nourish

    (plural nourishes)
    1. (obsolete) A nurse.

    Verb

    1. To feed and cause to grow; to supply with matter which increases bulk or supplies waste, and promotes health; to furnish with nutriment.
      • Bible, Is. xliv. 14He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
    2. To support; to maintain.
      • ShakespeareI in Ireland nourish a mighty band.
    3. To supply the means of support and increase to; to encourage; to foster; as, to nourish rebellion; to nourish the virtues.
    4. To cherish; to comfort.
      • Bible, James v. 5Ye have nourished your hearts.
    5. To educate; to instruct; to bring up; to nurture; to promote the growth of in attainments.
      • Bible, 1 Timothy iv. 6Nourished up in the words of faith.
    6. To promote growth; to furnish nutriment.
    7. (intransitive, obsolete) To gain nourishment.

    Derived terms

    © Wiktionary