nūtrĭo, īvi and ii, ītum (contr. form, nutrīmus for nutrivimus, Nemes. Ecl. 3, 26: nutribat for nutriebat, Verg. A. 11, 572; Sil. 16, 29; so, nutribant, Verg. A. 7, 485: nutribo for nutriam, Rhemn. Palaem. 1383; Cledon. 1914.—In the dep. form, nutritor for nutrito, Verg. G. 2, 425; cf. Prisc. p. 798 P.), 4, v. a. [Sanscr. root snu-, flow; Gr. νέω (σνεϝω), swim; cf. nurus], to suckle, nourish, feed, foster, bring up, rear (syn. alere; not in Cic., but v. nutrix and nutrimentum).
I Lit.: quos lupa nutrit, Ov. F. 2, 415: nutritus lacte ferino, id. Tr. 3, 11, 3: ilignā nutritus glande, Hor. S. 2, 4, 40: balaenae mammis nutriunt fetus, Plin. 11, 40, 95, § 235: serpente ciconia pullos Nutrit, Juv. 14, 75: taurus nutritus in herbā, id. 12, 12.—
B Transf., to nourish, support, maintain, foster .—Of plants: terra herbas Nutrit, Ov. R. Am. 45: myrtos roscido umore nutrire, Cat. 61, 25: nutriri cinere vult ruta, Plin. 19, 8, 45, § 156: fruges humo nutriente, Curt. 8, 10, 8; Petr. 120: Pax Cererem nutrit, Ov. F. 1, 704.— Poet.: Edonis nutritum missile ventis, a shaft taken from a tree toughened by storms , Val. Fl. 6, 340.—
2 To nourish, nurse, take care of, attend to the body: cura corporum nutriendorum, Liv. 4, 52: aegrum nutrire per eos cibos, quos, etc., Cels. 3, 23: vires, id. ib.: ulcus, to heal , id. 5, 26: damnum naturae in filio, Liv. 7, 4: morbos, Cels. 6, 6: capillum, Plin. 22, 22, 39, § 82: comam, Hier. in Amos, 8, 9 sq.; Vulg. 1 Cor. 11, 14 sq.: cutem, mulierum in facie incorruptam, Plin. 21, 21, 91, § 159.—
3 Nutrire vinum, to mix wine with spices , in order that it may keep, Col. 12, 30, 1: nutritum vinum, id. 12, 21, 3.—
4 In gen., to preserve : nutriuntur optime (mensae citreae) splendescuntque, manu siccā fricatae, Plin. 13, 15, 30, § 99.—
II Trop., to nourish, cherish, support, cultivate, sustain : indoles Nutrita faustis sub penetralibus, Hor. C. 4, 4, 25: amorem, Ov. A. A. 3, 579: pascere ac nutrire furorem (al. favorem), Sil. 7, 497: impetus ille sacer qui vatum pectora nutrit, Ov. P. 4, 2, 25: carmen, id. ib. 3, 4, 26: artes bonas, praecipue studia litterarum, Aur. Vict. Epit. 41, 14: nummi, quos hic quincunce modesto nutrieras, Pers. 5, 149: Graeciam, i. e. to treat mildly , Liv. 36, 35.—Of fire, to feed : gnes suscitat foliisque nutrit, Ov. M. 8, 643; 6, 493: graves simultates, quas Mucianus callide nutriebat, Tac. H. 3, 53 fin. : nimiam ac marcentem diu pacem, id. G. 36.