FOSTERAGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fosterage mean? 

• FOSTERAGE (noun)
  The noun FOSTERAGE has 2 senses:

1. encouragement; aiding the development of something

2. helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community

  Familiarity information: FOSTERAGE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOSTERAGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Encouragement; aiding the development of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

fosterage; fostering

Hypernyms ("fosterage" is a kind of...):

encouragement (the expression of approval and support)

Derivation:

foster (promote the growth of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

breeding; bringing up; fosterage; fostering; nurture; raising; rearing; upbringing

Context example:

they debated whether nature or nurture was more important

Hypernyms ("fosterage" is a kind of...):

acculturation; enculturation; socialisation; socialization (the adoption of the behavior patterns of the surrounding culture)

Derivation:

foster (help develop, help grow)

 Context examples 

A youth passed in solitude, my best years spent under your gentle and feminine fosterage, has so refined the groundwork of my character that I cannot overcome an intense distaste to the usual brutality exercised on board ship: I have never believed it to be necessary, and when I heard of a mariner equally noted for his kindliness of heart and the respect and obedience paid to him by his crew, I felt myself peculiarly fortunate in being able to secure his services.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)