nourish

Where does the word "nourish" come from? It comes from Latin nutrire, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Nourish’s story begins in Latin: nutrire meant “to feed, to nourish.” The root of 'nurse', 'nutrition' and 'nutrient'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as norrir. Carried into French for feeding and caring for someone's growth. It reached English by 1300s as nourish. Settled as the English word for providing food necessary for growth. Today, nourish means to provide a person, animal, or plant with the food necessary for growth and health.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient nutrire "to feed, to nourish", the root of 'nurse', 'nutrition' and 'nutrient'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval norrir "to feed and care for someone's growth", carried into French for feeding and caring for someone's growth.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s nourish "to provide the food necessary for growth and health", settled as the English word for providing food necessary for growth.