# cherish

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈt͡ʃɛɹɪʃ/ · frequency rank #14,490

## Definitions
1. To treat with affection, care, and tenderness; to nurture or protect with care.
2. To have a deep appreciation of; to hold dear.
3. To cheer, to gladden.

## Etymology
From Middle English charish, cherishen (“to have affection for, hold dear, treat kindly; to esteem, respect; to cherish; to take care of; to greet; to entertain, treat hospitably; to cheer; to encourage, incite”), from Old French cheriss-, chieriss-, extended stem of cherir, chierir (“to cherish”) (modern French chérir (“to cherish”)), from cher, chier (“dear, dearest”) (from Latin cārus (“beloved, dear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂- (“to desire, wish”)) + -ir (suffix forming infinitives of second conjugation verbs).

## Easily confused with
- **Chris** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cherish-vs-chris)
- **Christ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cherish-vs-christ)
- **cherished** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cherish-vs-cherished)
- **Cheri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cheri-vs-cherish)
- **Cherie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cherie-vs-cherish)
- **chemist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chemist-vs-cherish)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ccherish`, `cehrish`, `cheirsh`, `cherihs`, `cherishh`, `cherissh`, `cherrish`, `chersih`, `chherish`, `chreish`, `hcerish`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cherish