Nutriments

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Essential substances that provide nourishment for growth and maintenance of life
2. Various components such as vitamins, minerals, and calories necessary for health and biological function
3. Elements in food that sustain bodily processes and support overall wellness

Etymology: "Nutriments" is the plural of "nutriment", which came into Middle English from Latin "nūtrīmentum", meaning something that nourishes or feeds. The Latin noun is built from "nūtrīre", "to nourish", with the suffix "-mentum", which turns a verb into a noun for the means or result of an action, so the word originally named the nourishment itself rather than the person or thing doing the feeding. The English form has changed little in shape since it arrived, but its sense has narrowed. Today "nutriments" is used mainly in technical and scientific contexts for the individual substances, such as proteins, fats, and vitamins, that the body takes in and uses for growth and energy.

Synonyms: nourishments, nutrients, foodstuffs, sustenance, provisions