foster English · revision 5902

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1050}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈfɒs.tə/, US /ˈfɑː.stɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English fostrien, fostren, [[inh|ang|fōstrian|t=to nourish, feed]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|ang|fōstor|t=food, nourishment, bringing up]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*fōstrą]],^(Etymonline) from the same Germanic source as [[food]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) from an extended form of the PIE root [[ine-pro|*peh₂-|alt=*pa-|t=to feed]].^(Etymonline) Old Norse fóstr “bringing up” and fóstra “to bring up” are cognates.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To supply with food or nourishment: before 1050 in the OED, while Barnhart dates fostrien to about 1125, with an Old English form probably to be assumed.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To bring up a child with parental care is from about 1205 in the OED and about 1200 in Etymonline,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and to encourage or help grow, of things, from the early 13th century,^(Etymonline) of feelings and ideas from the 1560s;^(Etymonline) Barnhart has the figurative sense, to encourage, in a version of ''Piers Plowman'' about 1378.^(Barnhart 1988) The adjective sense, in the same family but not related by birth, goes back to Old English compounds such as fōstorfæder (before 800), fōstorcild and fōstormōdor.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) In British English, to foster a child is to place it in the care of foster parents.^(Collins 2023) In Scots and Lancashire dialect, a foster was an adopted child.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 800 – fōstorfæder, foster father.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1050 – to nourish.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1205 – to bring up a child.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 13th century – to encourage the growth of.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – to cherish feelings, ideas.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To encourage the growth or development of; to [[promote]]: ''foster good relations''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To bring up a child who is not one's own, for a time and without adopting it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To keep a hope or plan in one's mind; to [[cherish]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Giving or receiving parental care without legal or blood ties: ''foster parents'', ''a foster child''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fosterer]]

+ * [[fosteringly]]

+ * [[fosterage]]

+ * [[fosterling]]

+ * [[unfostered]]

+ * [[foster brother]]

+ * [[foster care]]

+ * [[foster child]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[food]]

+ * [[fodder]]

+ * [[feed]]

+ * [[forage]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}