I. ˈfästər noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, foster child, offspring, food, from Old English fōstor food, feeding; akin to Old Norse fōstr action of bringing up; derivative from the root of English food
Scotland : a foster child
II. ˈfȯstə(r), ˈfäs- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English foster, fostre, from Old English -fōstre nurse; akin to Old Norse fōstra nurse; derivative from the root of English foster (I)
archaic : a foster parent
III. transitive verb
( fostered ; fostered ; fostering -t(ə)riŋ ; fosters )
Etymology: Middle English fostren, fostrien; akin to Old Norse fōstra to raise, bring up; derivative from the root of English foster (I)
1. obsolete : to supply with food or nourishment
one bred but of alms and fostered with cold dishes — Shakespeare
2.
a. obsolete : to bring up with parental care
b. : to bring up under fosterage
the young prince was fostered in the home of the duke
3. : to keep warm : warm
what a viper have I been fostering in my bosom — Oliver Goldsmith
4. : to promote the growth or development of : promote and sustain : encourage , cultivate
the type of civilization which fostered the minstrel — C.D.Lewis
foster the use of radioactive isotopes — L.V.Joseph
Synonyms: see nurse
IV. adjective
Etymology: Middle English foster, foster- (as first constituent in such terms as foster moder, fostermoder foster mother, foster child, fosterchild foster child), from Old English fōstor-, from fōstor food, feeding
: affording, receiving, or sharing nourishment, upbringing, or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties: as
a. : rearing the child of another
a foster parent
b. : brought up by someone other than one's natural parent
a foster child
c. : reared in the same family but not of the same parentage
foster brothers
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of forster — more at forester
obsolete : forester