nursed

noun

1. wet nurse
2. a woman hired to take full care of another's young child or children; nursemaid
3. a person trained to take care of the sick, injured, or aged, to assist surgeons, etc.; specif., a registered nurse or a practical nurse
4. a person or thing that nourishes, fosters, protects, etc.
5. Zool. a worker bee or ant that cares for the young

Origin: ME norse < OFr norice < LL nutricia < L nutricius, that suckles or nourishes < nutrix (gen. nutricis), wet nurse < nutrire, to nourish < IE *(s)neu-, var. of base *(s)nā-, to flow > natant, Sans snāuti, (she) gives milk, Gr naein, to flow

transitive verb nursed, nursing

1. to give milk from the breast to (an infant); suckle
2. to suck milk from the breast of
3. to take care of (a child or children)
4. to bring up; rear
5. to tend (the sick, injured, or aged)
6. to cause to continue, grow, or develop; nourish or foster: to nurse a grudge
7. to treat, or try to cure: to nurse a cold
8. 1. to use, operate, or handle cautiously or carefully, so as to avoid injury, pain, exhaustion, etc.: to nurse an injured leg
   2. to consume, spend, etc. slowly or carefully so as to conserve: to nurse a highball
9. to clasp; hold carefully; fondle
10. Billiards to keep (the balls) close together for a series of caroms

intransitive verb

1. to be suckled; feed at the breast
2. to suckle a child
3. to tend the sick, injured, etc. as a nurse