Foster

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: fos=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

Foster, v. t. [OE. fostren, fr. AS. fōster, fōstor, food, nourishment, fr. fōda food. √75. See Food.].

•  To feed; to nourish; to support; to bring up.  [1913 Webster]

  "Some say that ravens foster forlorn children."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cherish; to promote the growth of; to encourage; to sustain and promote; as, to foster genius.  [1913 Webster]

Foster, v. i. 

 To be nourished or trained up together.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

Foster, a. [AS. fōster, fōstor, nourishment. See Foster, v. t.].

 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.  [1913 Webster]

Foster babe or Foster child, an infant or child nursed or raised by a woman not its mother, or bred by a man not its father. -- Foster brother, Foster sister, one who is, or has been, nursed at the same breast, or brought up by the same nurse as another, but is not of the same parentage. -- Foster dam, one who takes the place of a mother; a nurse. Dryden. -- Foster earth, earth by which a plant is nourished, though not its native soil. J. Philips. -- Foster father, a man who takes the place of a father in caring for a child. Bacon. -- Foster land. (a) Land allotted for the maintenance of any one. [Obs.] (b) One's adopted country. -- Foster lean [foster + AS. læn a loan See Loan.], remuneration fixed for the rearing of a foster child; also, the jointure of a wife. [Obs.] Wharton. -- Foster mother, a woman who takes a mother's place in the nurture and care of a child; a nurse. -- Foster nurse, a nurse; a nourisher. [R.] Shak. -- Foster parent, a foster mother or foster father. -- Foster son, a male foster child.

Foster, n. 

 A forester.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Foster, v. & adj.
--v.tr.
1 a promote the growth or development of. b encourage or harbour (a feeling).
2 (of circumstances) be favourable to.
3 a bring up (a child that is not one's own by birth). b Brit. (of a local authority etc.) assign (a child) to be fostered.
4 cherish; have affectionate regard for (an idea, scheme, etc.).
--adj.
1 having a family connection by fostering and not by birth (foster-brother; foster-child; foster-parent).
2 involving or concerned with fostering a child (foster care; foster home).

Derivative

fosterage n. (esp. in sense 3 of v.). fosterer n.

Etymology

OE fostrian, foster, rel. to FOOD

THESAURUS

Foster

abet, accommodate, acculturate, actuate, advance, affiliated, agnate, aid, aid and abet, akin, aliment, allied, ameliorate, amend, animate, apprentice, ask for, assist, attend to, avuncular, baby-sit, back, bear, better, boost, bosom, break, break in, breast-feed, breed, bring forward, bring up, care for, champion, chaperon, cherish, civilize, cling to, clip, closely related, coddle, cognate, collateral, compel, condition, congeneric, consanguine, consanguinean, consanguineous, conserve, contribute to, cosset, countenance, cradle, cultivate, develop, discipline, distantly related, drill, dry-nurse, edify, educate, elevate, embosom, embrace, emend, enate, encourage, energize, enhance, enlighten, enrich, entertain, exercise, fatten, fatten up, favor, feed, fetch up, fit, fondle, force, force-feed, form, forward, further, galvanize, german, germane, give encouragement, go straight, groom, harbor, hasten, have, have and hold, help, hold, hold on to, house, house-train, housebreak, hug, impel, improve, improve upon, invite, keep, keep in countenance, keep watch over, kindred, lactate, lard, lavish care on, lick into shape, lift, lodge, look after, look out for, look to, maintain, make an improvement, matrilateral, matrilineal, matroclinous, matronize, meliorate, mend, mind, minister to, mother, motivate, move, move to action, nourish, novercal, nurse, nurture, nutrify, oblige, of the blood, pamper, patrilateral, patrilineal, patroclinous, patronize, practice, prepare, preserve, promote, propel, protege, provide for, put in tune, put to school, raise, ready, rear, refine upon, reform, rehearse, related, ride herd on, see after, see to, send to school, serve, set in motion, shelter, shepherd, sib, sibling, socialize, spark, spoon-feed, stimulate, straighten out, stuff, succor, suckle, support, sustain, take care of, take charge of, take in hand, tend, train, transfigure, transform, treasure, treasure up, upgrade, uphold, uplift, uterine, watch, watch out for, watch over, wet-nurse

ROGET THESAURUS

Foster

Improvement

VB improve, be better, become better, get better, mend, amend, advance, ascend, increase, fructify, ripen, mature, pick up, come about, rally, take a favorable turn, turn over a new leaf, turn the corner, raise one's head, sow one's wild oats, recover, be better, be improved by, turn to right account, turn to good account, turn to best account, profit by, reap the benefit of, make good use of, make capital out of, place to good account, render better, improve, mend, amend, better, ameliorate, meliorate, correct, decrassify, improve upon, refine upon, rectify, enrich, mellow, elaborate, fatten, promote, cultivate, advance, forward, enhance, bring forward, bring on, foster, invigorate, touch up, rub up, brush up, furbish up, bolster up, vamp up, brighten up, warm up, polish, cook, make the most of, set off to advantage, prune, repair, put in order, review, revise, make corrections, make improvements, doctor, purify, relieve, refresh, infuse new blood into, recruit, reform, remodel, reorganize, new model, view in a new light, think better of, appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober, palliate, mitigate, lessen an evil.

Aid

VB aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid, come to the aid, of, contribute, subscribe to, bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid, give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand, give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn, take by the hand, take in tow, help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to, relieve, rescue, set up, set agoing, set on one's legs, bear through, pull through, give new life to, be the making of, reinforce, reenforce, recruit, set forward, put forward, push forward, give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to, promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten, support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster, cradle, nourish, nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse, manure, cultivate, force, foster, cherish, foment, feed the flame, fan the flame, serve, do service to, tender to, pander to, administer to, subminister to, minister to, tend, attend, wait on, take care of, entertain, smooth the bed of death, oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of, humor, cheer, encourage, second, stand by, back, back up, pay the piper, abet, work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for, take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of, advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service, squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize, lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to, smile upon, shine upon, favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of, side with, be of use to, subserve, benefit, render a service, conduce.

Excitation

VB excite, affect, touch, move, impress, strike, interest, animate, inspire, impassion, smite, infect, stir the blood, fire the blood, warm the blood, set astir, wake, awake, awaken, call forth, evoke, provoke, raise up, summon up, call up, wake up, blow up, get up, light up, raise, get up the steam, rouse, arouse, stir, fire, kindle, enkindle, apply the torch, set on fire, inflame, stimulate, exsuscitate, inspirit, spirit up, stir up, work up, pique, infuse life into, give new life to, bring new blood, introduce new blood, quicken, sharpen, whet, work upon, hurry on, give a fillip, put on one's mettle, fan the fire, fan the flame, blow the coals, stir the embers, fan into a flame, foster, heat, warm, foment, raise to a fever heat, keep up, keep the pot boiling, revive, rekindle, rake up, rip up, stir the feelings, play on the feelings, come home to the feelings, touch a string, touch a chord, touch the soul, touch the heart, go to one's heart, penetrate, pierce, go through one, touch to the quick, possess the soul, pervade the soul, penetrate the soul, imbrue the soul, absorb the soul, affect the soul, disturb the soul, absorb, rivet the attention, sink into the mind, sink into the heart, prey on the mind, distract, intoxicate, overwhelm, overpower, bouleverser, upset, turn one's head, fascinate, enrapture, agitate, perturb, ruffle, fluster, shake, disturb, startle, shock, stagger, give one a shock, give one a turn, strike all of a heap, stun, astound, electrify, galvanize, petrify, irritate, sting, cut to the heart, cut to the quick, try one's temper, fool to the top of one's bent, pique, infuriate, madden, make one's blood boil, lash into fury, be excited, flush up, flare up, catch the infection, thrill, mantle, work oneself up, seethe, boil, simmer, foam, fume, flame, rage, rave, run mad.

Endearment

VB caress, fondle, pet, dandle, pat, pat on the head, pat on the cheek, chuck under the chin, smile upon, coax, wheedle, cosset, coddle, cocker, cockle, make of, make much of, cherish, foster, kill with kindness, clasp, hug, cuddle, fold in one's arms, strain in one's arms, nestle, nuzzle, embrace, kiss, buss, smack, blow a kiss, salute, fold to the heart, press to the bosom, bill and coo, spoon, toy, dally, flirt, coquet, gallivant, galavant, philander, make love, pay one's court to, pay one's addresses to, pay one's attentions to, serenade, court, woo, set one's cap at, be sweet upon, look sweet upon, ogle, cast sheep's eyes upon, faire les yeux doux, fall in love with, win the affections, die for, propose, make an offer, have an offer, pop the question, plight one's troth, plight one's faith.

Belief

VB believe, credit, give faith to, give credit to, credence to, see, realize, assume, receive, set down for, take for, have it, take it, consider, esteem, presume, count upon, depend upon, calculate upon, pin one's faith upon, reckon upon, lean upon, build upon, rely upon, rest upon, lay one's account for, make sure of, make oneself easy about, on that score, take on trust, take on credit, take for granted, take for gospel, allow some weight to, attach some weight to, know, know for certain, have know, make no doubt, doubt not, be, rest assured, persuade oneself, assure oneself, satisfy oneself, make up one's mind, give one credit for, confide in, believe in, put one's trust in, place in, repose in, implicit confidence in, take one's word for, at one's word, place reliance on, rely upon, swear by, regard to, think, hold, take, take it, opine, be of opinion, conceive, trow, ween, fancy, apprehend, have it, hold a belief, possess, entertain a belief, adopt a belief, imbibe a belief, embrace a belief, get hold of a belief, hazard, foster, nurture a belief, cherish a belief, have an opinion, hold an opinion, possess, entertain an opinion, adopt an opinion, imbibe an opinion, embrace an opinion, get hold of an opinion, hazard an opinion, foster an opinion, nurture an opinion, cherish an opinion, view as, consider as, take as, hold as, conceive as, regard as, esteem as, deem as, look upon as, account as, set down as, surmise, get it into one's head, take it into one's head, come round to an opinion, swallow, cause to be believed, satisfy, persuade, have the ear of, gain the confidence of, assure, convince, convict, convert, wean, bring round, bring over, win over, indoctrinate, cram down the throat, produce conviction, carry conviction, bring home to, drive home to, go down, find credence, pass current, be received, be current, possess, take hold of, take possession of the mind.