
verb (used with object)
- to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth.
- to cherish, foster, keep alive, etc.: He had long nourished the dream of living abroad.
- to strengthen, build up, or promote: to nourish discontent among the workers; to nourish the arts in one’s community.
verb (tr)
- to provide with the materials necessary for life and growth
- to support or encourage (an idea, feeling, etc); fosterto nourish resentment
late 13c., “to bring up, nurture” (a child, a feeling, etc.), from Old French norriss-, stem of norrir “raise, bring up, nurture, foster; maintain, provide for” (12c., Modern French nourrir), from Latin nutrire “to feed, nurse, foster, support, preserve,” from *nutri (older form of nutrix “nurse”), literally “she who gives suck,” from PIE *nu- (from root *(s)nau- “to swim, flow, let flow,” hence “to suckle;” see nutriment) + fem. agent suffix. Related: Nourished; nourishing.
v.
- To provide with food or other substances necessary for sustaining life and growth.