Nurtures

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To support the growth and development of entities by providing care and encouragement
2. Offers continuous care and encouragement to help something flourish and develop
3. Supports and fosters the healthy advancement of growth through attention and aid

Etymology: "Nurtures" is the third-person singular form of the verb "nurture," so it describes someone or something that feeds, protects and helps a thing grow. The verb's history runs back to the Latin "nutrire," meaning "to nourish," which is also the source of "nutrition" and "nutrient." The noun was borrowed into Middle English as "norture" or "noriture," coming from Old French "norriture," "norreture," which in turn descends from Late Latin "nutritura," meaning "nourishment." The word therefore began as a concrete term for food and sustenance, and only later came to describe the broader raising and training of a child or a plant.

Synonyms: cultivates, fosters, encourages, supports, raises

Antonyms: neglects, abandon, hinders, stunts, detracts