cherish
- To hold something or someone dear and protect them with affection and care.
In a sentence
- She cherished the handwritten letters her grandmother had sent over the decades.
- He cherished every moment spent hiking through the mountains with his closest friends.
Usage note. 'Cherish' implies an active, protective kind of love; use it when you want to emphasize ongoing care, not just admiration.
Where it comes from
English cherish — “to hold dear, protect” · entered English 14th c.
From Old French 'cherir' (to hold dear), derived from 'cher' (dear, beloved), which comes from Latin 'carus' (dear, beloved). Entered English in the 14th century. The Latin 'carus' traces to Proto-Indo-European *keh₂- (to like, desire). (Source: Oxford, Etymonline)