c1450 St. Erkenwald (BL Add. 35298) in R. Hamer & V. Russell (2000) 59 Benet..[had] .ij. dyuers infirmytees, one [that] she was borne with a dry honde, that fro hir yonge aige [neuer] encresid by noryshment but euer bode stylle drye.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) iv. xxxiv. f. lxxxijv The wombe..oweth to dispense to all the membres norysshement.
a1530 W. Bonde (1531) iii. f. CCii Takynge refeccyon & nourysshment of her blessed body.
1576 W. Lambarde 202 It is very likely, that the Towne of Feuersham receiued the chiefe nourishment of her increase from the Religious house.
1641 sig. A3 Neither can the eye give the body any nourishment fro the outward Ornaments of a Banquet, vnlesse the palate relish the nutritive Delicates.
1651 T. Hobbes ii. xxiv. 130 Distribution of the Nourishment, to the severall Members of the Common-wealth.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil 89 No dressing they require... The Soil it self due Nourishment supplies. View more context for this quotation
1707 tr. P. Le Lorrain de Vallemont 268 Fat, warm and subtile Nourishments.
1728 E. Young xxx At his proud foot The sea..Immortal nourishment supplies.
1782 W. Cowper Conversation in 246 'Tis narrow, selfish, arrogant, and draws Its sordid nourishment from man's applause.
1839 G. Almar ii. i. 26 Have you given him any nourishment, Bedwin—any slops, eh?
1850 T. T. Lynch ii. 29 He may see..the bird visiting her young with nourishment.
1886 J. Ruskin I. xii. 415 The Idler and Rambler did..contain more substantial literary nourishment than could be..packed into so portable compass.
1947 K. Patchen 218 The wellsprings of the human heart drained of their last splendid nourishment.
1964 E. Baker i. 8 The hall, as usual, smelled of cooking cabbage; Fireman Fitzgerald's sole nourishment.
1998 D. Chase 46 Long (HBO TV shooting script) 18 in 1st Ser. (O.E.D. Archive) What about emotional nourishment? Love? Support?