Origin: 1275–1325; ME
cherisshen < MF
cheriss- (long s. of
cherir), equiv. to
cher dear (< L
cārus) +
-iss -ish 2 ; akin to
charity 
Related forms: cher⋅ish⋅a⋅ble, adjective
cher⋅ish⋅er, noun
cher⋅ish⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Synonyms:
1, 2. Cherish, foster, harbor imply giving affection, care, or shelter to something. Cherish suggests regarding or treating something as an object of affection or as valuable: to cherish a friendship. Foster implies sustaining and nourishing something with care, esp. in order to promote, increase, or strengthen it: to foster a hope; to foster enmity. Harbor suggests giving shelter to or entertaining something undesirable, esp. evil thoughts or intentions: to harbor malice or a grudge. 2. nurse, nourish, sustain.
Antonyms:
2. neglect. 3. relinquish.
[cher-ish] 