nourisher
(ˈnʌrɪʃə(r))
Forms: α. 5 norischer, -yschere (-are), -yssher, -eshoure, 6 -issher, -ysher, 6–7 norisher. β. 6 Sc. nurisare, -issar, -isear. γ. 6 nouryssher, 6– nourisher.
[f. nourish v. + -er1. Cf. OF. norissere, nouriseur, etc. (mod.F. nourrisseur).]
1. One who or that which nourishes.
| α 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) v. xiv. 109 Good wyl is appropred to the holy ghoost as to the very noryssher and keper. c 1440 Jacob's Well 189 For almes-dede is noryschere & makere redy þe weye to god. 1533 J. Heywood Play of Wether 1223 (Brandl), Of every thynge, I se, you are norysher. 1589 Cooper Admon. 226 Whome hee hath appointed as fosterers and norishers of his church. |
| β 1561 Winȝet First Tract. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 7 The inventaris, nurissaris, and simoniacall merchandis of the samyn mischeif. 1581 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 384 The makers and nurissaris of trouble and disorder. |
| γ 1526 R. Whitford Martiloge (1893) 43 Saynt Ioseph was nouryssher & bringer up of our sauyour Chryst. 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. (1594) 685 Amongst such nourishers of our miseries this proverbe is rife. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 38 The Clergy, as the fomenters and nourishers of the religion. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 398 These bounties which our Nourisher..hath caus'd The Earth to yeild. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 553 Pleasure..is the greatest nourisher of indolence and indulgence. 1808 Lamb Charac. Dram. Writ. Wks. 528 The nourisher and the destroyer of hopeful wits. |
2. A thing which affords nourishment; a nourishing agent. Also
const. of.
| 1528 Paynell Salerne's Regim. F iv, Wyne that is redde..and claret..are moche greatter nourishers than other wynes. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iii. (1586) 146 The greatest nourisher is womans milke. 1651 French Distill. v. 110 He may finde out, how great a nourisher, and restorative Wheat is. 1676 Grew Anat. Pl., Anat. Leaves i. vi. §4 Most Bodies which abound with Salt, are the greatest Nourishers of Plants. 1742 Richardson Pamela IV. 318 Sound Sleep is one of the greatest Nourishers in Nature. 1865 Englishm. Mag. Sept. 200 As a nourisher of the body, it [sc. water] is certainly entitled to rank as a food. |