Cherish

v. 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 favored 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. Anson’s Voy., 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. But wee were gentle among you, euen as a nurse cherisheth her children.

1635.  N. R., trans. 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.  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.  Cogan, Haven Health, xliv. (1636), 58. For their sweetnesse they [gilliflowers] are worthily cherished in Gardens.

1593.  Shaks., 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 upon the Coast; 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.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. iii. 194. Looke to thy Seruants, and cherish thy Guests.

1665.  Evelyn, Lett. to Wren, 4 April. 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.

  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, harbor 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.  Occleve, Misrule, 282. Men love [trouthe] nat, men wole it not cherice.

1593.  Shaks., 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., II. 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 anong ourselves.