Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of fostering or raising a child who is not one's own biological child: "Fosterage" refers to the practice or system of taking care of and bringing up a child in a family that is not the child's birth family.
   • The condition of being a foster child: It can also describe the status or experience of being raised in such a manner.
   • (Archaic) Encouragement or promotion of growth and development: In a broader, often historical context, it can mean the act of nurturing, aiding, or encouraging the development of something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The community had a long tradition of fosterage, where children were often raised by relatives.
  • Her fosterage provided her with a stable and loving home.
  • (Archaic) The king's fosterage of the arts led to a cultural renaissance.

Advanced Usage

• "In fosterage": being in the state of being fostered.
  • The child was placed in fosterage with a certified family.

Variants and Related Words

• Foster (verb): To bring up a child that is not one's own by birth; to encourage the development of something.
  • They decided to foster two children.
• Foster (adjective): Denoting a family relationship not based on blood, but on care and upbringing.
  • He has a close bond with his foster father.
• Fostering (noun): The act of providing parental care to children not related by blood.
  • Fostering is a rewarding but challenging responsibility.

Synonyms

• Upbringing: The treatment and instruction received by a child from its parents throughout its childhood.
• Nurture: The process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something.
• Rearing: The process of bringing up and educating a child.

Different Meanings / Notes

• The primary modern meaning of "fosterage" is specifically related to the care of children. The broader meaning of "encouragement" is now rare and considered archaic.
• It is a formal term and is less common in everyday speech than words like "fostering" or "foster care."

Noun

1. helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community
   • they debated whether nature or nurture was more important
2. encouragement; aiding the development of something