harboring
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
These four verbs all describe keeping a thought or feeling in your mind, but they differ in strength and usage. 'Harbor' is often used for negative emotions (a grudge, resentment, suspicion) that you keep inside for a long time without expressing them. 'Nurse' is more deliberate — it means keeping a feeling alive by paying attention to it, as in 'nurse a resentment.' 'Hold' is the most neutral and general; you can hold any opinion, belief, or feeling without any negative connotation. 'Entertain' is slightly more formal and suggests considering an idea without fully committing to it, such as 'entertain a thought.' 'Cherish' is the opposite of 'harbor' in tone — it means to hold something dear and valuable (memories, hopes, relationships) with warmth and care. For example: 'She harbored a suspicion that her colleague was lying.' vs. 'She cherished the memory of their trip together.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'harbor' came from Old English 'herebeorg,' which meant a shelter for an army — made from 'here' (army) and 'beorg' (refuge). Over time, the meaning shifted from a military shelter to any safe haven for ships. By the 1200s, it was also being used as a verb meaning 'to give shelter.' The '-ing' form 'harboring' follows the standard English pattern for turning a verb into a present participle or gerund. The American spelling drops the 'u' (harbor vs. harbour), following Noah Webster's spelling reforms in the early 1800s.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a