Main Entry: nour·ish

Pronunciation: \ˈnər-ish, ˈnə-rish\

Function: transitive verb

Etymology: Middle English nurishen, from Anglo-French nuriss-, stem of nurrir, norrir, from Latin nutrire to suckle, nourish; akin to Greek nan to flow, noteros damp, Sanskrit snauti it drips

Date: 14th century

1 : nurture, rear
2 : to promote the growth of <no occasions to exercise the feelings nor nourish passion — L. O. Coxe>
3 a : to furnish or sustain with nutriment : feed b : maintain, support <their profits…nourish other criminal activities — Beverly Smith>

— nour·ish·er noun