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Nurturing

 - 3 dictionary results

nur⋅ture

  [nur-cher] verb, -tured, -tur⋅ing, noun
Use Nurturing in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to feed and protect: to nurture one's offspring.
2. to support and encourage, as during the period of training or development; foster: to nurture promising musicians.
3. to bring up; train; educate.
–noun
4. rearing, upbringing, training, education, or the like.
5. development: the nurture of young artists.
6. something that nourishes; nourishment; food.
Origin:
1300–50; (n.) ME norture < MF, var. of nourriture < LL nūtrītūra a nourishing, equiv. to L nūtrīt(us) (ptp. of nūtrīre to feed, nourish ) + -ūra -ure; (v.) deriv. of the n.

Related forms:
nur⋅tur⋅a⋅ble, adjective
nur⋅ture⋅less, adjective
nur⋅tur⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1, 3. See nurse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Nurturing
nur·ture   (nûr'chər)   
n.  

  1. Something that nourishes; sustenance.

  2. The act of bringing up.

  3. Biology The sum of environmental influences and conditions acting on an organism.

tr.v.   nur·tured, nur·tur·ing, nur·tures

  1. To nourish; feed.

  2. To educate; train.

  3. To help grow or develop; cultivate: nurture a student's talent.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin nūtrītūra, act of suckling, from Latin nūtrītus, past participle of nūtrīre, to suckle; see (s)nāu- in Indo-European roots.]
nur'tur·er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to promote and sustain the growth and development of: nurturing hopes; cultivating tolerance; foster friendly relations; nursed the fledgling business.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

nurture 
c.1330 (n.), "breeding, upbringing," from O.Fr. nourriture "nourishment," from L.L. nutritia (see nursery). The verb meaning "to feed or nourish" is attested from c.1430.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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