fosterage

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

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

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Fosterage \Fos"ter*age\ (?; 48), n.
   The care of a foster child; the charge of nursing. --Sir W.
   Raleigh.
   [1913 Webster]

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

19 Moby Thesaurus words for "fosterage":
      abetment, advocacy, aegis, auspices, backing, care, championship,
      charity, countenance, encouragement, favor, goodwill, guidance,
      interest, patronage, seconding, sponsorship, sympathy, tutelage

[email protected]