Cherished

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃɛɹɪʃt/

Definitions

1. Valued and held in high regard due to emotional attachment or affection, often associated with meaningful memories
2. Highly esteemed and treated with care owing to its sentimental importance, creating a bond of love
3. Regarded with deep affection and treasured for personal or sentimental reasons

Etymology: The word "cherished" is simply the past tense and past participle of the verb "cherish," so its real story is that of the verb. That verb came into Middle English from Old French "cherir" or "chierir," meaning "to cherish," built on "cher" or "chier," meaning "dear" or "dearest." Those French forms descend from Latin "carus," "beloved, dear," which traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to desire, wish." The English verb once covered a much wider range than affection alone. Middle English speakers used it to mean to esteem or respect someone, to take care of them, to greet or entertain them hospitably, and even to cheer or encourage them. The modern sense of holding something precious through emotional attachment narrowed down from that broad group of meanings.

Synonyms: valued, treasured, beloved, adored, esteemed

Antonyms: neglected, abandoned, disregarded, despised, hated