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definitions

nourish

[nur-ish, nuhr-]
verb (used with object)
  1. to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth.
  2. to cherish, foster, keep alive, etc.: He had long nourished the dream of living abroad.
  3. to strengthen, build up, or promote: to nourish discontent among the workers; to nourish the arts in one's community.

Origin of nourish

1250–1300; Middle English norisshe < Old French noriss-, long stem of norir < Latin nūtrīre to feed; see nurse, -ish2
Related formsnour·ish·a·ble, adjectivenour·ish·er, nouno·ver·nour·ish, verb (used with object)re·nour·ish, verb (used with object)self-nour·ished, adjectiveun·nour·ish·a·ble, adjectiveun·nour·ished, adjectivewell-nour·ished, adjective

Synonyms for nourish

1. See nurse. 3. encourage, help, aid, back, advance.

Antonyms for nourish

3. discourage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unnourished

Historical Examples of unnourished

  • Instead, being brilliant and witty, he has left us unnourished.

    The Crow's Nest

    Clarence Day, Jr.

British Dictionary definitions for unnourished

nourish

verb (tr)
  1. to provide with the materials necessary for life and growth
  2. to support or encourage (an idea, feeling, etc); fosterto nourish resentment
Derived Formsnourisher, nounnourishing, adjectivenourishingly, adverb

Word Origin for nourish

C14: from Old French norir, from Latin nūtrīre to feed, care for
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for unnourished

nourish

v.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
unnourished in Medicine

nourish

[nûr′ĭsh]
v.
  1. To provide with food or other substances necessary for sustaining life and growth.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.