nursing
UK[ˈnɜːsɪŋ]US[ˈnɜːrsɪŋ]
n
the job or skill of caring for people who are ill or injured.
n
the profession or practice of providing care for the sick and infirm.
Morpheme Breakdown
nurse
ing
nurse
to care for
ing
gerund/verbal noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'nursing' originates from the latin verb 'nutrire', meaning 'to nourish, suckle, or feed'. this core concept of providing sustenance and care evolved through late latin 'nutricia' and old french 'nurice' into the middle english 'nurse', denoting a person who nourishes and tends to the young or sick. the addition of the gerund suffix '-ing' transforms the verb into a noun, encapsulating the continuous action or profession of providing such care. thus, the modern term 'nursing' retains its etymological link to the fundamental acts of nourishment and attentive support, now specialized within the healthcare domain.
Analysis
Structure: nurse (to care for) + ing (gerund/verbal noun suffix)
nurse (from old french 'nurice', from late latin 'nutricia', from latin 'nutricius' meaning 'nourishing', from 'nutrix' meaning 'nurse', from 'nutrire' meaning 'to nourish, suckle') + ing (old english '-ung', '-ing', a suffix forming verbal nouns).
Examples
she decided to pursue a career in nursing after volunteering at the hospital.
the nursing of the patient back to health required constant attention and expertise.
advances in medical technology have significantly changed the field of nursing.