nurture

Etymology

From Middle English norture, noriture, from Old French norriture, norreture, from Late Latin nutritura (“nourishment”), from Latin nutrire (“to nourish”).

noun

1. The act of nourishing or nursing; tender care
2. That which nourishes; food; diet.
3. The environmental influences that contribute to the development of an individual (as opposed to "nature").

verb

1. To nourish or nurse.
2. (figurative, by extension) To encourage, especially the growth or development of something.
   2009, UNESCO, The United Nations World Water Development Report – N° 3 - 2009 – Freshwater and International Law (the Interplay between Universal, Regional and Basin Perspectives), page 10, →ISBN The relationships between universal norms and specific norms nurture the development of international law.