foster
pronunciation
How to pronounce foster in British English:
UK [ˈfɒstə(r)]
How to pronounce foster in American English:
US [ˈfɑːstər]
-
- Verb:
- promote the growth of
- bring up under fosterage; of children
- help develop, help grow
-
- Adjective:
- providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties
Word Origin
- foster
- foster: [OE] The etymological notion underlying foster is of ‘giving food’. Indeed, the Old English verb fōstrian meant ‘feed, nourish’, and it was not until the 13th century that secondary metaphorical senses, such as ‘rear a child’ and ‘encourage, cultivate’, began to emerge. It was a derivative of the Old English noun fōstor ‘food’, which in turn was formed from the same Germanic source, *fōth-, as produced English food.=> food
- foster (v.)
- Old English *fostrian "to supply with food, nourish, support," from fostor "food, nourishment, bringing up," from Proto-Germanic *fostra-, from extended form of PIE root *pa- "to protect; feed" (see food). Meaning "to bring up a child with parental care" is from c. 1200; that of "to encourage or help grow" is early 13c. of things; 1560s of feelings, ideas, etc. Old English also had the word as an adjective meaning "in the same family but not related," in fostorfæder, fostorcild, fostormodoretc. Related: Fostered; fostering.
Example
- 1. It also began to foster harmony between man and nature .
- 2. However , work remains to foster coordination across departments and agencies .
- 3. And that is difficult to foster in the current rhetorical pattern .
- 4. Measured trust begins with small acts that foster reciprocity .
- 5. Louise 's children were taken into foster care .