English Explanatory Dictionary

cherish

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To treat with affection, care, and tenderness; to nurture or protect with care.
  2. To have a deep appreciation of; to hold dear.
  3. To cheer, to gladden.
name
  1. A female given name.

Pronunciation

/ˈt͡ʃɛɹɪʃ/ en-us-cherish.ogg en-au-cherish.ogg

Word forms

cherish cherishes cherishing cherished

Etymology

From Middle English charish, cherishen (“to have affection for, hold dear, treat kindly; to esteem, respect; to cherish; to take care of; to greet; to entertain, treat hospitably; to cheer; to encourage, incite”), from Old French cheriss-, chieriss-, extended stem of cherir, chierir (“to cherish”) (modern French chérir (“to cherish”)), from cher, chier (“dear, dearest”) (from Latin cārus (“beloved, dear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂- (“to desire, wish”)) + -ir (suffix forming infinitives of second conjugation verbs).

Synonyms

prize treasure appreciate bedear cherish esteem hold dear think much of value elate jollify beatify enrapture begladden blissen bright cheer fetch cheer up content delight elevate enbliss exhilarate fain gay gladden gladden someone's heart gratify happify happy hearten laetificate light up make someone's day perk up please raise someone's spirits rejoice turn the frown upside down upcheer warm someone's heart warm the cockles of someone's heart

Antonyms

despise

Related words

caress

Derived words

cherishable cherish a snake in one's bosom cherished cherisher cherishing cherishingly cherishly cherishment overcherish uncherished
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