foster child
- a child raised by someone who is not its natural or adoptive parent.
- a needy child, as one living in an impoverished country, supported or aided by contribution to a specific charity.
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Origin of foster child
1150–1200; Middle English fostercild
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
carekeepingsafekeepingprotectiondependentorphanpensionerchargeclientpupilchildtrustminorguardianshipgodchildExamples from the Web for foster child
Contemporary Examples
Clusters, filaments, and voids make up the large-scale structure of the Universe, foster-child of gravity and slow time.
Historical Examples
When the day was over, Alpheus called to him his foster-child.
To please Alciphron, your foster-child, you would make us all beggars.
Complete Short WorksGeorg Ebers
Her heart misgave her; he was her foster-child—dear to her as her own.
Baron BrunoLouisa Morgan
Then the pursuer overtook her foster-child, and pecked him savagely.
Peggy Raymond's VacationHarriet L. (Harriet Lummis) Smith
You are Agatha Shaw's only child, therefore to me a foster-child.
The Stolen SingerMartha Idell Fletcher Bellinger
foster child
- a child looked after temporarily or brought up by people other than its natural or adoptive parents
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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