nursing fathern.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. xlix. E For kinges shalbe thy noursinge fathers, and Quenes shalbe thy noursinge mothers.

1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. ⁋1 Those noursing fathers and mothers that withdraw..liuelyhood and support.

a1629 W. Hinde Faithfull Remonstr. (1641) xxviii. 89 So that this Parish hath cause for ever, to acknowledge him a nursing father of Religion amongst them.

a1669 J. Denham Progress of Learning in Poet. Wks. (1928) 118 Then, first our Monarchs were acknowledg'd here That they, their Churches Nursing-Fathers were.

1703 J. Kelsey Serm. 246 The Empire turned Christian, and became a Nursing-Father to the Infancy of the Church.

1766 T. Amory Life John Buncle II. xi. 411 The parent, like the king, must be a nursing father, a rational humane sovereign, and so long all service and obedience are due.

1787 W. Beckford Portuguese Jrnl. 8 June (1954) 69 The family to which he has been a nursing father these 70 or 80 years.

1800 R. Heber Let. 24 June in A. Heber Life R. Heber (1830) I. i. 15 I sincerely pray that the Almighty would put it into the hearts of the nursing fathers of the Church, to take some order for the comfort of her ministers.

1827 J. Keble Christian Year II. lxxxv. 132 'Twixt Prayer and watchful Love his heart dividing, A nursing father day and night.

1888 A. Jessopp Coming of Friars vi. 274 The friars were to some extent nursing fathers of the University.

1902 E. H. Hickey Our Lady of May 38 Hast thou Kings for nursing fathers? Queens for fostering due?

1995 Jrnl. Southern Hist. 61 463 The legislators had constructed an identity as..‘Nursing-Fathers to the Church’.