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Added 9 October 2026

foster

/ˈfɒstə/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about foster at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864).

verb

Promote the growth of.
Foster our children's well-being and education
Bring up under fosterage; of children.
Help develop, help grow.
nurture his talents

adjective

Providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties.
foster parent

Origin

From Middle English foster, from Old English fōstor (“food, sustenance”), from Proto-West Germanic *fōstr, from Proto-Germanic *fōstrą (“nourishment, food”). Cognate with Middle Dutch voester (“nursemaid”), Middle Low German vôster (“food”), Old Norse fóstr (“nurturing, education, alimony, child support”), Danish foster (“fetus”), Swedish foster (“fetus”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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