nourish
Pronunciation
  • (RP, NYC, other accents without the "Hurry-furry" merger) IPA: /ˈnʌɹ.ɪʃ/
  • (GA) IPA: /ˈnʌɹ.ɪʃ/, /ˈnɝ.ɪʃ/
    • (hypercorrection) IPA: /ˈnʊɹ.ɪʃ/
Noun

nourish (plural nourishes)

  1. (obsolete) A nurse.
Verb

nourish (nourishes, present participle nourishing; past and past participle nourished)

  1. To feed and cause to grow; to supply with matter which increases bulk or supplies waste, and promotes health; to furnish with nutriment.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Isaiah 44:14 ↗:
      He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
  2. To support; to maintain.
    • 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene i]:
      I in Ireland nourish a mighty band.
  3. To supply the means of support and increase to; to encourage; to foster
    to nourish rebellion
    to nourish virtues
  4. To cherish; to comfort.
    • 1611, King James Version, James v. 5
      Ye have nourished your hearts.
  5. To educate; to instruct; to bring up; to nurture; to promote the growth of in attainments.
    • 1611, King James Version, 1 Timothy iv. 6
      Nourished up in the words of faith.
  6. To promote growth; to furnish nutriment.
  7. (intransitive, obsolete) To gain nourishment.
Related terms Translations Translations


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