FOS'TER, verb transitive 1. To feed; to nourish; to support; to being up. Some say that ravens foster forlorn children. 2. To cherish; to forward; to promote growth. The genial warmth of spring fosters the plants. 3. To cherish; to encourage; to sustain and promote; as, to foster passion or genius. FOS'TER, verb intransitive To be nourished or trained up together.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI