| 释义 |
fos·ter
I. \ˈfästər\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, foster child, offspring, food, from Old English fōstor food, feeding; akin to Old Norse fōstr action of bringing up; derivative from the root of English food
Scotland : a foster child
II. \ˈfȯstə(r), ˈfäs-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English foster, fostre, from Old English -fōstre nurse; akin to Old Norse fōstra nurse; derivative from the root of English foster (I)
archaic : a foster parent
III. transitive verb
(fostered ; fostered ; fostering \-t(ə)riŋ\ ; fosters)
Etymology: Middle English fostren, fostrien; akin to Old Norse fōstra to raise, bring up; derivative from the root of English foster (I)
1. obsolete : to supply with food or nourishment
< one bred but of alms and fostered with cold dishes — Shakespeare >
2.
a. obsolete : to bring up with parental care
b. : to bring up under fosterage
< the young prince was fostered in the home of the duke >
3. : to keep warm : warm
< what a viper have I been fostering in my bosom — Oliver Goldsmith >
4. : to promote the growth or development of : promote and sustain : encourage, cultivate
< the type of civilization which fostered the minstrel — C.D.Lewis >
< foster the use of radioactive isotopes — L.V.Joseph >
Synonyms: see nurse
IV. adjective
Etymology: Middle English foster, foster- (as first constituent in such terms as foster moder, fostermoder foster mother, foster child, fosterchild foster child), from Old English fōstor-, from fōstor food, feeding
: affording, receiving, or sharing nourishment, upbringing, or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties: as
a. : rearing the child of another
< a foster parent >
b. : brought up by someone other than one's natural parent
< a foster child >
c. : reared in the same family but not of the same parentage
< foster brothers >
V. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of forster — more at forester
obsolete : forester |