fosterage

American  

[faw-ster-ij, fos-ter-] / ˈfɔ stər ɪdʒ, ˈfɒs tər- /

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.

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fosterage British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of fosterage

First recorded in 1605–15; foster + -age

Example Sentences

She is my sister by fosterage and this is how it came about.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

When Mardas saw Gharib his reason fled, and he said to him, "O my son, I am under thy protection: so deliver me in right of my fosterage of thee!"

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 06 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

This conjecture is corroborated by the numerous instances in history and in story of fosterage affection proving, when tested, stronger than the natural affection of relatives by birth.

From The Glories of Ireland by Lennox, P. J.

However, by the Celtic custom of fosterage the infant is intrusted to Sir Ector as his dalt, or foster-child, and Uther falls in battle.

From Alfred Tennyson by Lang, Andrew

His son Brian had, in accordance with an old Irish custom, passed his boyhood in "fosterage" at the court of Callaghan, King of Cashel, in East Munster.

From Historic Boys Their Endeavours, Their Achievements, and Their Times by Brooks, Elbridge Streeter