(verb) : 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, 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).
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* Nutrire vinum, to mix wine with spices, in order that it may keep, Col. 12, 30, 1: nutritum vinum,id. 12, 21, 3.
* In gen., to preserve: nutriuntur optime (mensae citreae) splendescuntque, manu siccā fricatae,Plin. 13, 15, 30, § 99.