いとおしむ

い

と

お

し

む

いとおしむ · godan verb (-mu)

Meanings

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

love dearly; cherish; be attached to

usually written using kana alone

Expresses a tender, protective love, often for someone or something small, vulnerable, or dear. Slightly literary or emotional in tone.

愛あいする
愛する is the standard verb for 'to love' and is more common and neutral. いとおしむ carries a nuance of tender, protective affection and is less frequently used.
かわいがる
かわいがる means 'to dote on' or 'to be affectionate toward', often used for pets or children. いとおしむ is more emotional and can be used for abstract things like memories.

いとおしむUsage69%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 愛おしむ is rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
愛いとおしむUsage31%
Kanji spelling using 愛; rarely used in practice and may be considered non-standard.

Derived from the adjective いとおしい (dear, precious) with the verbalizing suffix む, expressing the act of feeling or treating something as dear.