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cher·ish

(chĕrĭsh)

tr.v. cher·ished, cher·ish·ing, cher·ish·es

1. To treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear: cherish one's family; fine rugs that are cherished by their owners.

2. To keep fondly in mind; treasure: cherish a memory. See Synonyms at appreciate.

[Middle English cherishen, from Old French cherir, cheriss-, from cher, dear, from Latin cārus; see kā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

cherish·a·ble n.

cherish·er n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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