fosteringn.
1.
a. The action of foster v. in various senses.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > encouragement > [noun]
fosteringc1230
comfortingc1320
recomforting1487
emboldening1503
emboldishment1512
heartening1534
encouragement1550
encouraging1578
flushing1775
inspiriting1846
leaveway1913
c1230 Hali Meid. 33 Jn his fostrenge forð.
c1400 Rom. Rose 6113 In Gile & in Ipocrisie, That me engendred & yaf fostryng.
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (Roxb.) Introd. Of Seynt Margrete..The byrthe, the fostryng and how she cam Fyrst to the feyth.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxvv For the long mainteinyng, and fosteryng of Quene Margarete, and her soonne Prince Edwarde.
1885 Athenæum 3 Oct. 441/2 The withdrawal of such official and quasi-official fostering as architecture already has.
b. = fosterage n. 2. Obsolete exc. Historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > parent > parenthood > [noun] > action of fostering > custom of fostering
fosteringa1599
fosterage1775
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 47 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) The cheife cause of bringing in the Irish language, amongst them, was specially their fostering, and marrying with the Irish.
1612 J. Davies Discouerie Causes Ireland 179 In the opinion of this [sc. the Irish] people, Fostering hath alwayes beene a stronger alliance then Bloud.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. xviii. 712 The English settlers..connected themselves with them [sc. the Irish] by the national custom of fostering.
2. concrete. Food, nourishment, sustenance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > [noun] > sustenance or nourishment
foodOE
fosterc1000
fodnethOE
flittinga1225
livenotha1225
nourishingc1300
sustenancec1300
livelihoodc1325
nurture1340
fosteringc1386
livingc1405
nouriturea1425
nutriment?a1425
nutrition?a1425
lifehood1440
reliefa1450
nourishmentc1450
nurshingc1450
sustentationc1450
nutrimentc1485
alimenta1500
sustainmenta1500
bielda1522
creature1540
suck1584
mantiniment1588
fosterment1593
the three M's1938
c1386 G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale 137 I am a man of litel sustenaunce. My spirit hath his fostring in the Bible.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
fosteringadj.
/ˈfɒstərɪŋ/ That fosters, in senses of the verb.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > [adjective]
nutritivec1540
fostering1568
foody?1611
pabulous1646
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > [adjective]
furthering1418
upraising1601
speedinga1625
furthersome1627
fostering1765
1568 T. Howell Arbor of Amitie f. 9 The fethred foule..his fostring foode, with chirping bill he peekes.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 49 Bacchus and fost'ring Ceres, Pow'rs Divine. View more context for this quotation
1765 O. Goldsmith Traveller (ed. 2) 19 Thou transitory flower, alike undone By cold contempt, or favour's fostering sun.
1795 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 793 The furrow'd waving corn is seen Rejoice in fostering showers.
1840 T. B. Macaulay Ranke's Hist. in Ess. (1851) II. 145 Edinburgh has owed less to..the fostering care of rulers.
Derivatives
ˈfosteringly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > [adverb]
fosteringly1838
1838 T. Carlyle in London & Westm. Rev. Dec. 83 Sheltered and fosteringly embowered.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
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n.c1230adj.1568