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Fend vs Foster - What's the difference?

fend | foster |

As nouns the difference between fend and foster

is that fend is an enemy; fiend; the Devil while foster is a forester.

As verbs the difference between fend and foster

is that fend is to take care of oneself, to take responsibility for oneself while foster is to nurture or bring up offspring; or to provide similar parental care to an unrelated child.

As an adjective foster is

providing parental care to unrelated children.

As a proper noun Foster is

{{surname|A=An|English|from=occupations}}, variant of Forster.

fend

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • An enemy; fiend; the Devil.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To take care of oneself, to take responsibility for oneself.
  • * 1990 , Messrs Howley and Murphy, quoted in U.S. House Subcommittee on Labor Standards, Oversight hearing on the Federal Service Contract Act , U.S. Government Printing Office, page 40,
  • Mr. Howley. They are telling him how much they will increase the reimbursement for the total labor cost. The contractor is left to fend as he can.
    Chairman Murphy. Obviously, he can’t fend for any more than the money he has coming in.
  • * 2003 , Scott Turow Reversible Errors , page 376
  • The planet was full of creatures in need, who could not really fend , and the law was at its best when it ensured that they were treated with dignity.
  • ); to block or push away ((non-gloss definition)).
  • * Dryden
  • With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.
  • * 1999 , Kuan-chung Lo, Guanzhong Luo, Luo Guanzhong, Moss Roberts, Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel , page 39
  • He fends , he blocks, too skillful to be downed.
  • * 2002 , Jude Deveraux, A Knight in Shining Armor , page 187
  • “ My age is lot like yours. Lone women do not fare well. If I were not there to fend for you, you—”
    Derived terms
    * fend and prove * fend away * fender * fend for oneself * fend off * forfend

    Anagrams

    * ----

    foster

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Providing parental care to unrelated children.
  • Receiving such care
  • Related by such care
  • Noun

  • (countable, obsolete) A forester
  • (uncountable) The care given to another; guardianship
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To nurture or bring up offspring; or to provide similar parental care to an unrelated child.
  • To cultivate and grow something.
  • Our company fosters an appreciation for the arts.
  • To nurse or cherish something.
  • (obsolete) To be nurtured or trained up together.
  • (Spenser)

    Antonyms

    * (cultivate and grow) hinder

    Derived terms

    * fosterable * fosterage * foster-child, foster child * fosterer * foster home * fosterhood * fostering * fosterment * foster parent

    Anagrams

    * * * * ----