Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Nourish \Nour"ish\, v. i.
   1. To promote growth; to furnish nutriment.

            Grains and roots nourish more than their leaves.
                                                  --Bacon.

   2. To gain nourishment. [R.] --Bacon.

Nourish \Nour"ish\, n.
   A nurse. [Obs.] --Hoolland.

Nourish \Nour"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Nourished}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Nourishing}.] [OE. norisen, norischen, OF. nurir,
   nurrir, norir, F. norrir, fr. L. nutrire. Cf. {Nurse},
   {Nutriment}, and see {-ish}.]
   1. To feed and cause to grow; to supply with matter which
      increases bulk or supplies waste, and promotes health; to
      furnish with nutriment.

            He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
                                                  --Is. xliv.
                                                  14.

   2. To support; to maintain.

            Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band. --Shak.

   3. To supply the means of support and increase to; to
      encourage; to foster; as, to nourish rebellion; to nourish
      the virtues. ``Nourish their contentions.'' --Hooker.

   4. To cherish; to comfort.

            Ye have nourished your hearts.        --James v. 5.

   5. To educate; to instruct; to bring up; to nurture; to
      promote the growth of in attainments. --Chaucer.

            Nourished up in the words of faith.   --1 Tim. iv.
                                                  6.

   Syn: To cherish; feed; supply. See {Nurture}.

Source : WordNet®

nourish
     v 1: provide with nourishment; "We sustained ourselves on bread
          and water"; "This kind of food is not nourishing for
          young children" [syn: {nurture}, {sustain}]
     2: give nourishment to [syn: {nutrify}, {aliment}]