harbour
UK[ˈhɑːbə]US[ˈhɑːrbər]
n
an area of water on the coast where ships and boats can shelter, often with structures like piers and warehouses.
v
to give a hiding place, shelter, or refuge to someone or something, especially someone considered unlawful.
v
to keep a thought, feeling, or idea, especially a negative one, secretly in one's mind.
Etymology
the word 'harbour' originates from the old english 'herebeorg', meaning 'shelter, lodgings', which itself is a compound of 'here' (army) and 'beorg' (shelter, protection). this literal sense of providing shelter for an army evolved into the more general nautical meaning of a sheltered place for ships by the late old english period. the verb senses, concerning the sheltering of people or the holding of thoughts, developed naturally from this core concept of providing refuge and safe keeping. the word is part of the native germanic stratum of english, related to dutch 'haven' and german 'hafen'.
Analysis
the word is a simplex unit derived from old english. it is not productively formed from smaller, recognizable morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the fishing boats returned to the safety of the harbour before the storm.
it is a crime to harbour a fugitive from justice.
she had long harboured a suspicion about her colleague's motives.