foster

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864)
  2. verb promote the growth of
  3. verb bring up under fosterage; of children

Etymology

From Middle English foster, from Old English fōstor (“food, sustenance”), from Proto-West Germanic *fōstr, from Proto-Germanic *fōstrą (“nourishment, food”). Cognate with Middle Dutch voester (“nursemaid”), Middle Low German vôster (“food”), Old Norse fóstr (“nurturing, education, alimony, child support”), Danish foster (“fetus”), Swedish foster (“fetus”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

Stephen Foster, Stephen Collins Foster

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