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nourish
8 dictionary results for: nourish
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
nour·ish       [nur-ish, nuhr-] Pronunciation Key
–verb (used with object)
1.to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth.
2.to cherish, foster, keep alive, etc.: He had long nourished the dream of living abroad.
3.to strengthen, build up, or promote: to nourish discontent among the workers; to nourish the arts in one's community.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME norisshe < OF noriss-, long s. of norir < L nūtrīre to feed; see nurse, -ish2]

nour·ish·a·ble, adjective
nour·ish·er, noun

1. See nurse. 3. encourage, help, aid, back, advance.
3. discourage.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
nour·ish       (nûr'ĭsh, nŭr'-)  Pronunciation Key 
tr.v.   nour·ished, nour·ish·ing, nour·ish·es
  1. To provide with food or other substances necessary for life and growth; feed.
  2. To foster the development of; promote: "Athens was an imperial city, nourished by the tribute of subjects" (V. Gordon Childe).
  3. To keep alive; maintain: nourish a hope.


[Middle English norishen, from Old French norrir, norriss-, from Vulgar Latin *nutrīre, from Latin nūtrīre; see (s)nāu- in Indo-European roots.]

nour'ish·er n.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
nourish 
c.1290, "to bring up, nurture" (a child, a feeling, etc.), from O.Fr. norriss-, stem of norrir (Fr. nourir), from L. nutrire "to feed, nurse, foster, support, preserve," from *nutri (older form of nutrix "nurse"), lit. "she who gives suck," from PIE base *(s)nu- "flow, let flow," hence "to suckle" (cf. Skt. snauti "she drips, gives milk," Gk. nao "I flow").

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
nourish

verb
1. provide with nourishment; "We sustained ourselves on bread and water"; "This kind of food is not nourishing for young children" 
2. give nourishment to [syn: nutrify

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

nourish nour·ish (nûr'ĭsh, nŭr'-)
v. nour·ished, nour·ish·ing, nour·ish·es
To provide with food or other substances necessary for sustaining life and growth.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Nourish

Nour"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nourished; p. pr. & vb. n. Nourishing.] [OE. norisen, norischen, OF. nurir, nurrir, norir, F. norrir, fr. L. nutrire. Cf. Nurse, Nutriment, and see -ish.]

1. To feed and cause to grow; to supply with matter which increases bulk or supplies waste, and promotes health; to furnish with nutriment.

He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. --Is. xliv. 14.

2. To support; to maintain.

Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band. --Shak.

3. To supply the means of support and increase to; to encourage; to foster; as, to nourish rebellion; to nourish the virtues. "Nourish their contentions." --Hooker.

4. To cherish; to comfort.

Ye have nourished your hearts. --James v. 5.

5. To educate; to instruct; to bring up; to nurture; to promote the growth of in attainments. --Chaucer.

Nourished up in the words of faith. --1 Tim. iv. 6.

Syn: To cherish; feed; supply. See Nurture.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Nourish

Nour"ish\, v. i. 1. To promote growth; to furnish nutriment.

Grains and roots nourish more than their leaves. --Bacon.

2. To gain nourishment. [R.] --Bacon.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Nourish

Nour"ish\, n. A nurse. [Obs.] --Hoolland.

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