fosterage

[ faw-ster-ij, fos-ter- ]

noun

1. the act of fostering or rearing another's child as one's own.
2. the condition of being a foster child.
3. an act of promoting or encouraging:

   The board will undertake the fosterage of our new project.

fosterage

/ ˈfɒstərɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act of caring for or bringing up a foster child
2. the condition or state of being a foster child
3. the act of encouraging or promoting

Word History and Origins

Origin of fosterage¹

First recorded in 1605–15; foster + -age

Example Sentences

Fosterage, we are told, was of two sorts, for affection and compensation.

From Project Gutenberg

Connected apparently with the tribal sentiment were the strange customs of fosterage and gossipred.

From Project Gutenberg

Fosterage consisted in putting out the child to be reared by a tribesman who became its foster-father.

From Project Gutenberg

A child in fosterage was reared and educated suitably for the position it was destined to fill in life.

From Project Gutenberg

Marriage and fosterage between the English and Irish are forbidden, and declared to be high treason.

From Project Gutenberg