/cherish/definition

cherish

-) Transitive verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: tʃɛrɪʃ.

-) It is dated from the beginning of 1300.

-) Etymology: from Middle French cheriss-, stem of chérir (= to cherish, hold dear), from cher (= dear), + -ish, from Latin carus (= dear).

-) 1. Obsolete acceptation: a. To treat caressingly or fondly; to hold dear. b. To caress; to pat endearingly.

… you shall cherish him [the horse], that he may understand what your will is.

Gervase Markham… A Way to Get Wealth 1695

-) 2. Rare: a. To treat with fostering care; nurse (children). b. To cultivate (a plant, etc.)

… it is cherished in the gardens of Italie.

John Gerard… The Herball 1636

In wandering round the shattered walls and through the devastated interior, I gathered evidence that the calamity was not of late occurrence.  Winter snows, I thought, had drifted through that void arch, winter rains beaten in at those hollow casements; for, amidst the drenched piles of rubbish, spring had cherished vegetation: grass and weed grew here and there between the stones and fallen rafters.

Charlotte Bronte… Jane Eyre 1847

We left him in the arms of his faithful nurse, and we find him still tenderly loved and cherished by her. 

Camilla Crosland… Lydia 1852

… Peggy cherished the girl with an all-indulgent tenderness…

Mrs. Oliphant… The House on the Moor 1861

-) 3. Obsolete: to entertain kindly, cherishingly or lovingly (a guest).

-) 4. Obsolete and rare: to keep carefully and cherishingly (a thing, either material o immaterial).

This book I had again and again perused with delight. […] Yet, when this cherished volume was now placed in my hand--when I turned over its leaves, and sought in its marvellous pictures the charm I had, till now, never failed to find--all was eerie and dreary…

Charlotte Bronte… Jane Eyre 1847

-) 5. Archaic and rare: to keep warm.

-) 6. To keep, maintain or entertain (a hope, design, thought, etc.) in the mind, as if by cultivation or nursing.

He was too cordial-hearted, however, to cherish any malice against the offenders.

Catherine Frances… Mothers and daughters 1830

To those who have cherished an affection for a faithful and sagacious dog, I need hardly be at the trouble of explaining the nature or the intensity of the gratification thus derivable.  

Edgar Poe… The Black Cat 1843

It would be difficult to say why they cherished this fancy…

Susan Cooper… Rural Hours 1850

Henry was incapable of cherishing vindictive feelings against any one.

Caroline Hentz… Robert Graham 1855

He was aware of this change of feeling, despised himself for it, struggled with it nay, internally yielded to it and cherished it, long before he suffered the slightest expression of it, by word, action, or look, to escape him.

Dickens… A House to Let 1858

We walked round the ruined garden twice or thrice more, and it was all in bloom for me. If the green and yellow growth of weed in the chinks of the old wall had been the most precious flowers that ever blew, it could not have been more cherished in my remembrance.

Dickens… Great Expectations 1861

Sam knew very well that […] Jake still bitterly hated him, and still cherished the design of wreaking his vengeance upon him at the first opportunity.

George Eggleston… Captain Sam 1876

-) Hence: /cherished/ (participial adjective):

… whenever I pressed him to divulge the cherished secret, he shook his head knowingly, and placing his finger on his nose, uttered solemnly the word, "Wait!"—and I did so.

Bentley's Miscellany, vol. IX 1842

Henry, to whom Robert the night before had told his plighted faith to Julia, rejoiced at this consummation of his cherished wishes.

Hentz… Robert Graham 1856

-) English words derived from the verb CHERISH: cherisher, cherishing, cherishingly, cherishment, cherishable, uncherished, uncherishing.