Nurture: a Definition

1. Training; upbringing.
2. Something that nourishes: food.
3. The sum of the environmental factors influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism.
4. To help the growth or development of.
5. To provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding.
6. To supply with nourishment.

Origin: from Late Latin nutritura act of nursing, from Latin nutritus, past participle nutrire to suckle, nourish.

Synonyms:

advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, promote,

edify, educate, illume, illuminate, illumine, inspire, nurture, advocate, back, champion,

endorse (also indorse), support, uphold; endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize,

underwrite; abet, aid, assist; advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout; agitate (for),campaign (for),

work (for), elevate, ennoble, enrich, ensoul, lift, uplift; better, improve, regenerate, renew,

transform; exalt, glorify, transfigure, sate, satiate, satisfy; nurse, suckle; cloy, fill, surfeit; fortify, replenish, strengthen; feed; board, cater, provision, victual

If ever I thought I were a perfectionist, all that ceased when I became a parent.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4 ASV