— cherishable , adj. — cherisher , n. — cherishingly , adv.
/cher"ish/ , v.t.
1. to hold or treat as dear; feel love for: to cherish one's native land.
2. to care for tenderly; nurture: to cherish a child.
3. to cling fondly or inveterately to: to cherish a memory.
[ 1275-1325; ME cherisshen cheriss- (long s. of cherir ), equiv. to cher dear ( carus ) + -iss -ISH 2 ; akin to CHARITY ]
Syn. 1, 2. CHERISH, FOSTER, HARBOR imply giving affection, care, or shelter to something. CHERISH suggests regarding or treating something as an object of affection or as valuable: to cherish a friendship. FOSTER implies sustaining and nourishing something with care, esp. in order to promote, increase, or strengthen it: to foster a hope; to foster enmity. HARBOR suggests giving shelter to or entertaining something undesirable, esp. evil thoughts or intentions: to harbor malice or a grudge. 2. nurse, nourish, sustain.
Ant. 2. neglect. 3. relinquish.