Nursle

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To care for someone or something tenderly, as a nurse would tend to a patient or a parent to a child
2. To hold, tend, or cherish with gentle attention, often in a close and protective way
3. To nurture or foster something with affectionate care, keeping it warm, safe, and close

Etymology: "Nursle" is an alteration of "nuzzle," the verb meaning to push or rub against something with the nose, or to nestle close. The change came about under the influence of "nurse," so that the word picked up a sense of cherishing and close, tender handling alongside its original snuffling contact. The result is a word that sounds like a blend of two familiar verbs, though its core meaning still belongs to "nuzzle." Because the change is a simple substitution of one familiar word's sound and associations for another's, the word is best understood as a variant of "nuzzle" rather than a separate root. Its meaning stays close to the older verb, with the warmth of "nurse" layered on top.