To encourage the development or growth of something, or to care for a child temporarily without legal adoption.
From Old English 'fostor,' meaning food or nourishment, related to 'feed.' The meaning shifted from literal nourishment to nurturing development of ideas, relationships, or children.
The tradition of foster care goes back centuries across cultures—ancient Romans, Greeks, and biblical societies all practiced it, recognizing that children could thrive with multiple caregivers beyond biological parents.
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