Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            Some say that ravens foster forlorn children.
                                                  --Shak.

   2. To cherish; to promote the growth of; to encourage; to
      sustain and promote; as, to foster genius.

Source : WordNet®

fostering
     n 1: encouragement; aiding the development of something [syn: {fosterage}]
     2: raising someone to be an accepted member of the community;
        "they debated whether nature or nurture was more
        important" [syn: {breeding}, {bringing up}, {fosterage}, {nurture},
         {raising}, {rearing}, {upbringing}]