nourish

plural nourishes

1. obsoleteA nurse.

present singular third person nourishes · participle present nourishing · participle past nourished · past nourished

1. transitiveTo feed and cause to grow; to supply with food or other matter which increases weight and promotes health.

   He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 44:14

   3 more examples

   other carnivorous Animals are difficultly nourished by Plants alone

   1623, Francis Bacon, Historia Vitae et Mortis

   Children nourished exclusively upon this simple food will be found to enjoy more perfect health

   1872, Thomas Bull, The Maternal Management of Children, in Health and Diseases

   we have ample evidence that male Bobolinks do not shirk the labor of nourishing their families. In a four-year study, Wittenberger (1980, 1982) found that males delivered about 60 Bobolink percent of the food.

   1996, Alexander Frank Skutch, Orioles, Blackbirds, and Their Kin: A Natural History

2. transitiveTo support; to maintain; to be responsible for.

   I in Ireland nourish a mighty band.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

3. transitiveTo encourage; to foster; to stimulate

   to nourish civility

   4 more examples

   to nourish a sense of self-worth

   [T]he fauour of Princes and Magiſtrates noryſheth, augmenteth, and amplyfyeth all artes and ſciences by liberalitie, and extynguyſheth the ſame by miſerable couetouſnes and parcimonie.

   1561, Richard Eden, “To the Ryght Worshypfull Syr Wyllyam Garrerd Knyght, and Master Thomas Lodge, Aldermen of the Citie of London, and Gouernours of the Honorable Felowshyp or Societie, aswell of Certaine of the Nobilitie, as of Marchauntes Aduenturers, for the Discouery of Landes, Territories, Ilandes, and Seignories Vnknowen, and Not before Their First Aduenture or Enterprise by Seas or Nauigations Commonly Frequented: And to the Right Worshypfull the Consulles, Assistentes, and Comminaltie of the Same Societie, Richarde Eden Wyssheth Health and Prosperitie”, in Martin Cortes [i.e., Martín Cortés de Albacar], translated by Richard Eden, The Arte of Nauigation: Conteynyng a Compendious Description of the Sphere, with the Makyng of Certen Instrumentes and Rules for Nauigations: and Exemplified by Manye Demonstrations. […], London: […] Richard Jugge, […], →OCLC, signature [¶ iii], recto

   When we slow down to pay attention to our own experience, we open ourselves to the love and richness that is here all the time. These are moments that can nourish your connection to your heart.

   2003, Marilyn Byfield Paul, It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys

   I thanked the Fort Leavenworth military historian, Colonel von Schlemmer, for nourishing my first hope to memorialize the Buffalo Soldiers

   2010, Colin L. Powell, My American Journey

4. transitiveTo cherish; to comfort.

   Ye have nourished your hearts.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, James 5:5

5. transitiveTo educate or bring up; to nurture; to promote emotional, spiritual or other non-physical growth.

   Nourished up in the words of faith.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Timothy 4:6

6. intransitiveTo promote growth; to furnish nutriment.

   This type of nourishes very well.

7. intransitiveobsoleteTo gain nourishment.

   a kingdom may have good limbs, but will have empty veins, and nourish little

   1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Empire”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC