American songwriter whose works, such as “Oh! Susannah” (1848) and “Old Folks at Home” (1851), reflect the sentiment of pre-Civil War America. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
tr.v. fos·tered, fos·ter·ing, fos·ters 2. To promote the growth and development of; cultivate: detect and foster artistic talent. See Synonyms at advance. 3. To nurse; cherish: foster a secret hope. adj. 1. Providing parental care and nurture to children not related through legal or blood ties: foster parents; foster grandparents; a foster home. 2. Receiving parental care and nurture from those not related to one through legal or blood ties: foster children. [Middle English fostren, from Old English *fōstrian, to nourish, from fōstor, food, nourishing; see pā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.