noun.
The act of fostering; nurturance or promotion.
noun.
The act or custom of placing a child with a foster parent or parents, especially when practiced as a traditional childrearing method in certain societies.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.
The act of fostering, nursing:, or nourishing; specifically, the rearing of another's child as one's own, in the relation of foster-parent and foster-child.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun.
The care of a foster child; the charge of nursing.
noun.
An act of fostering another's child as if it were your own.
noun.
A condition of being the foster child.
noun.Promoting or encouragement given by act or word.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
noun.
helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community
noun.
encouragement; aiding the development of something
Word Usage
"Prior to the change, parental rights were left intact while children were in fosterage, and the state (social workers) assisted parents with the view of regaining custody."