cherish, v.
(ˈtʃɛrɪʃ)
Forms: 4 cheresch, chirisch, 4–5 cherisch(e, cheris(s, cherse, 4–6 cherice, -ych(e, -ys(he, -issh, 5 -eysch, -ysch(e, -ich, -issch, charisshe, 5–6 cheryss(h, 6 Sc. chereis, charish, 6–7 cherrish, cheerish, 6–8 chearish, 4– cherish.
[ME. cheriss, -isch, a. F. chériss- extended stem of chérir to cherish, hold dear, f. cher dear: see -ish. The -eis, -ice form was favoured in Sc.; with the abridged form cherse, cf. nourish, nurse.]
† 1. trans. To hold dear, treat with tenderness and affection; to make much of. Obs. or arch.
| c 1320 R. Brunne Medit. 333 My dyscyple whych y haue chersid, Me to betraye hym haue þey hyred. c 1374 Chaucer Former Age 52 But eche of hem wolde oother wel cheryce. c 1475 Partenay 121 The Erle Amerie, Which so was louyd and cherished tho. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 13 We be the yongest chyldren of God, and therfore he maketh moost of vs and cheryssheth vs. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 122/2, I studie to live for them, which you will not do unless you cherish yourself. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Voy. S. Seas 61 The Spaniards are very kind to their black Slaves, whom they cherish and encourage highly. |
† b. To make too much of, pamper, pet. Obs.
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 8 And the yongger [daughter] was so cherisshed that she dede what she wolde. 1483 Vulg. abs Terentio 32 b, I cherish or make to mykell of my selfe [nimis michi indulgeo]. |
† c. To caress, fondle; to hug; to stroke or pat endearingly. Obs. or arch.
| a 1550 Christis Kirke Gr. iv, He chereist hir, scho bad gae chat him. 1614 Markham Cheap Husb. i. ii. (1668) 10 Take off his saddle and cherish him, and then dress him, and cloath him up for all night. 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ., Calais (The Remise Door), I could have taken her into my arms, and cherished her. 1814 Southey Roderick xxv. 224 Look how he leans To cherish him; and how the gallant horse Curves up his stately neck. |
2. To treat with fostering care, foster tenderly, nurse (children, young creatures).
| 1340–70 Alisaunder 53 Hee cherished þe childe cheefe ouer alle, Þat he was woxen full weele. c 1450 Merlin i. 16 They toke the child and cherishid it. 1566 Drant Wail. Hierimye i, Thynges precious or good, To cheryshe theyr so needie sowles. 1611 Bible 1 Thess. ii. 7 As a nurse cherisheth her children. 1635 N. R. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. ii. 156 He promised to cherish her as the henne cherisheth her chickens. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. vii. 76 The young prince..was cherished during the winter by a yeoman who knew his rank. |
b. To foster, tend, cultivate (plants obs., hair, etc.).
| 1519 W. Horman Vulg. x, Some cherisshe theyr busshis of heare with moche kymbeynge and wesshynge in lye. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. (1586) 69 Angelica..is cherished in our Gardens. 1586 T. Cogan Haven Health xliv. (1636) 58 For their sweetnesse they [gilliflowers] are worthily cherished in Gardens. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. vi. 21 For what doth cherrish Weeds, but gentle ayre? a 1845 Barham Ingol. Leg., Bagman's Dog, How the Sailors, too, swear, How they cherish their hair. |
c. transf. and fig.
| 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 11 One of the most flourishing places..being cherished and put in a way of Trade. 1769 Robertson Charles V, V. ii. 273 He [Erasmus] first scattered the seeds, which Luther cherished and brought to maturity. 1842 Tennyson Locksley Hall 65 That I should cherish that which bears but bitter fruit. |
† 3. To entertain kindly (a guest). Obs.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8758 Joye he made for his comyng..& cherisched hym ouer alle oþere of pris. c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2055 Ȝif þay for charyté cherysen a gest. 1556 Chron. Gr. Friars (1852) 46 The kynge of Ynglond..had cherycyd and made moche of theme alle. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. iii. 194 Looke to thy Seruants, and cherish thy Guests. 1665 Evelyn Let. to Wren 4 Apr., I will charge you with some addresses to Friends of mine there, that shall exceedingly cherish you. 1738 Glover Leonidas i. 196 Received And hospitably cherish'd. |
† 4. To cheer, gladden, inspirit, encourage. Obs.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 128 Rehayte rekenly þe riche & þe poueren, & cherisch hem alle with his cher. c 1400 Destr. Troy 6131 Ne be cheryst with chere thurgh our chaunse febyll. c 1430 Lydg. Compl. Bl. Knt. xliii, Myn accusours..cherissheth hem my deth to purchase. 1649 Norwood Voy. Virginia in Voy. & Trav. (1744) VI, We cherish'd him the best we could, and would not have him so profoundly sad. 1734 Watts Reliq. Juv. (1789) 210 The verdant prospect cherishes our sight. |
5. To take affectionate care of (a thing); to keep or guard carefully. Obs. exc. as passing into 7.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1154 Hov charged more watz his chaunce þat hem [vesselles] cherych nolde. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 22 Suche thinges wol be gretely kept, and cherisshed. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 86 Cherrish theese presents. 1831 Brewster Newton (1855) II. xxvii. 415 Every memorial of so great a man..has been preserved and cherished with peculiar veneration. |
6. To keep warm; ‘to give warmth, ease, or comfort to’ (J.). arch.
| 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles ii. 144 Hennes..cherichen her chekonys ffro chele of þe wynter. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 73 Chersyn, foveo. 1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God 436 Cherished as the hen doth her egges with heate. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 1068 Some better warmth to cherish Our Limbs benumm'd. 1785 Burns Vision ii. xv, When the deep green-mantled Earth Warm-cherished every floweret's birth. |
7. To entertain in the mind, harbour fondly, encourage, cling to (a hope, feeling, design, etc.).
(The most frequent current sense.)
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 462 It was myn entente To forthere trouthe in love & it cheryse. 1406 Hoccleve Misrule 282 Men love [trouthe] nat, men wole it not cherice. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, ii. iii. 147 You that doe abett him in this kind, Cherish Rebellion, and are Rebels all. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 191 You cannot enough esteem and cherrish this fancy. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. xxx. 134 The hostile designs, which they had long cherished in their ferocious minds. 1798 Ferriar Varieties of Man 196 Every age cherishes its favourite errors. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xiv. (1878) 292 You should not cherish resentment against him. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 157 Opinions and beliefs which have been cherished among ourselves. |