foster Meaning, Definition & Usage
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noun United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864)
Stephen Collins Foster; Stephen Foster.
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verb promote the growth of
further.
- Foster our children's well-being and education
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verb bring up under fosterage; of children
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verb help develop, help grow
nurture.
- nurture his talents
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adjective satellite providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties
surrogate.
- foster parent
- foster child
- foster home
- surrogate father
WordNet
Fos"ter transitive verb
Etymology
OE.Wordforms
Definitions
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To feed; to nourish; to support; to bring up. Some say that ravens foster forlorn children. Shak.
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To cherish; to promote the growth of; to encourage; to sustain and promote; as, to .foster genius
Fos"ter intransitive verb
Definitions
To be nourished or trained up together. Obs. Spenser.
Fos"ter adjective
Etymology
AS.Definitions
Relating to nourishment; affording, receiving, or sharing nourishment or nurture; -- applied to father, mother, child, brother, etc., to indicate that the person so called stands in the relation of parent, child, brother, etc., as regards sustenance and nurture, but not by tie of blood.
Fos"ter noun
Definitions
A forester. Obs. Spenser.
Fos"ter noun
Definitions
One who, or that which, fosters.