Nourishing
/ˈnʌr.ɪ.ʃɪŋ/noun
Providing food or other substances needed for growth, health, or well-being.
Did you know?It ultimately comes from Latin *nutrire*, “to feed, nurse,” the same ancient root behind words like *nutrition* and *nutritious*—a reminder that language has long treated feeding as a sacred act of sustaining life.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*new-
“to nurture, suckle, or feed”
Latin
Latin
nutrīre
“to feed, nourish, bring up”
Late Latin
Latin
nōrīcāre / nutrīciāre
“to nourish or rear”
Old French
Old French
norir / nourir
“to feed, rear, nurture”
Middle English
English
nourisshen
“to feed, support, or bring up”
Modern English
English
nourishing
“providing nourishment or support for growth”
Explore more surprising origins