[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

foster \fos"ter\, v. t. imp.  p. p. fostered, p. pr.  vb.
   n. fostering. oe. fostren, fr. as. f=oster, f=ostor,
   food, nourishment, fr. f=oda food. root75. see food.
   1. to feed; to nourish; to support; to bring up.
      1913 webster

            some say that ravens foster forlorn children.
                                                  --shak.
      1913 webster

   2. to cherish; to promote the growth of; to encourage; to
      sustain and promote; as, to foster genius.
      1913 webster
see also:
fostered fostering food 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

fostering
     n 1: encouragement; aiding the development of something syn: fosterage
     2: raising someone to be an accepted member of the community;
        "they debated whether nature or nurture was more
        important" syn: breeding, bringing up, fosterage, nurture,
         raising, rearing, upbringing
see also:
fosterage breeding bringing up nurture raising rearing 
upbringing 

Fostering >> F Words
Fostering, definition of term: Fostering
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