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 |