cherish

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*keh₂-“to desire, wish”
2. Latin · derived fromcārus“beloved, dear”
3. Old French · derived fromcheriss-
4. Middle English · inherited fromcharish
5. English todaycherish

From Middle English charish, cherishen (“to have affection for, hold dear, treat kindly; to esteem, respect; to cherish; to take care of; to greet; to entertain, treat hospitably; to cheer; to encourage, incite”), from Old French cheriss-, chieriss-, extended stem of cherir, chierir (“to cherish”) (modern French chérir (“to cherish”)), from cher, chier (“dear, dearest”) (from Latin cārus (“beloved, dear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂- (“to desire, wish”)) + -ir (suffix forming infinitives of second conjugation verbs).

Words from the same roots