† alteragen.
Obsolete (historical in later use).
In Ireland: the nursing and raising of another's child; such a system of fostering. Cf. fosterage n. 2.The Norman or English nobility often had their children fostered by the Irish in order to create and strengthen alliances with them.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > upbringing > [noun]
nourishingc1325
nurturec1330
afaitementc1400
nurseryc1400
nortelryc1405
alterage?c1450
nouriturec1450
rulec1525
upbringingc1525
education1527
nourituring1555
nutriture1567
breeding1577
nurturing1578
nuzzling1586
rearing1611
frame1632
seasoning1649
nurtureship1837
child-rearing1842
paedotrophy1857
raising1929
?c1450 in J. Davies Discov. Causes Ireland (1612) 185 But Gossipred, and alterage, And leesing of our Language, Haue mickely holp theretoo.
1537 Act 28–9 Henry VIII c. 22 in Statute Rolls Irish Parl. (2002) V. 217 By mariage alterage and fostering of the kinges subjectes of this his lande of Irlande with his graces Irish rebels great lacke of obedience hathe growen to his highnes.
1612 J. Davies Discouerie Causes Ireland 179 In Ireland: where they put away al their children to Fosterers: the potent & rich men Selling; the meaner sort Buying, the alterage of their Children.
1812 S. E. Brydges Collins's Peerage Eng. VI. 122 He was attainted of high-treason.., for fosterage, and alterage with the King's Irish enemies.
1870 Jrnl. Ethnol. Soc. 2 350 Fosterage, as a system, implied alterage as a system; both systems prevailed in Ireland.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.?c1450- half-afraid
- half-almond stitch
- half-and-half
- half-and-half jury
- half-and-halfed
- half-and-halfer
- half-and-halfism
- half-angel
- half-angrily
- half-ape
- half-apologetically
- half-arm
- half-armed
- half-armour
- half-arsed
- half-arsedness
- half-ashamed
- half-ashamedly
- half-ass
- half-assed
- half-asses
- half-assing
- half-aum
- half-aunt
- half-awake