fostering

Noun

Synonyms: fosterage breeding bringing up nurture raising rearing upbringing

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

encouragement; aiding the development of somethingSynonyms: fosterage
helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community“they debated whether nature or nurture was more important”Synonyms: breeding bringing up fosterage nurture raising rearing upbringing

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Foster \Fos"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fostered, p. pr. & vb. n. Fostering.] [OE. fostren, fr. AS. f[=o]ster, f[=o]stor, food, nourishment, fr. f[=o]da food. [root]75. 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]