Nutriment, n.
Etymology: [L. nutrimentum, fr. nutrire to nourish. See Nourish.]
1. That which nourishes; anything which promotes growth and repairs the natural waste of animal or vegetable life; food; aliment. The stomach returns what it has received, in strength and nutriment diffused into all parts of the body. South.
2. That which promotes development or growth. Is not virtue in mankind The nutriment that feeds the mind Swift.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for nutriment; he lists it under food.
Where he writes about it:
Thus, we speak of food and drink, of wholesome, unwholesome, or indigestible food; but in a more scientific sense whatever, when taken into the digestive organs, serves to build up structure or supply waste may be termed food; the word is extended to plants to signify whatever taken in any way into the organism serves similar purposes; thus, we speak of liquid food, plant food, etc.; in this wider sense food is closely synonymous with nutriment, nourishment, and sustenance. — from food
Nutriment and nutrition have more of scientific reference to the vitalizing principles of various foods; thus, wheat is said to contain a great amount of nutriment. — from food