Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Nourish

Nourish (nur"ish) , transitive verb

[Old English norisen, norischen, Old French nurir, nurrir, norir, French nourrir, from Latin nutrire. Compare Nurse, Nutriment, and see -ish.]

1.
To feed and cause to grow; to supply with matter which increases bulk or supplies waste, and promotes health; to furnish with nutriment.
He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. — Is. xliv. 14
2.
To support; to maintain.
Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band. — Shakespeare
3.
To supply the means of support and increase to; to encourage; to foster; as, to nourish rebellion; to nourish the virtues.
Nourish their contentions. — Hooker
4.
To cherish; to comfort.
Ye have nourished your hearts. — James v. 5
5.
To educate; to instruct; to bring up; to nurture; to promote the growth of in attainments. — Chaucer
Nourished up in the words of faith. — 1 Tim. iv. 6

Nourish , intransitive verb

1.
To promote growth; to furnish nutriment.
Grains and roots nourish more than their leaves. — Bacon
2.
To gain nourishment. [Rare] — Bacon

Nourish , noun

A nurse. [Obsolete] — Hoolland