Definition

A child who is raised by someone other than their biological parents, often in a temporary arrangement.

Example

The fosterling was welcomed into the family with open arms.

Conversation

I just met my new fosterling yesterday.

That's great! How did it go?

It was really heartwarming to see how excited the fosterling was to be here.

I can imagine! It must be such a big change for them.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fosterling → It is formed from "foster" (from Old English *fostrian*, meaning to nourish or rear) and "-ling" (a suffix denoting a person or thing associated with). The word "fosterling" refers to a person, typically a child, who is reared or nurtured by someone other than their biological parents.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'nourished' ('foster') by another person, and the '-ling' indicates that this person is associated with that nurturing. A fosterling is someone who is cared for by someone else.

Visually Confused Words