Part 314

Fos"sil*ism (?), n. 1. The science or state of fossils. Coleridge.

2. The state of being extremely antiquated in views and opinions.

Fos"sil*ist, n. One who is versed in the science of fossils; a paleontologist. Joseph Black.

Fos`sil*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. fossilisation.] The process of converting, or of being converted, into a fossil.

Fos"sil*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fossilized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fossilizing (?).] [Cf. F. fossiliser.] 1. To convert into a fossil; to petrify; as, to fossilize bones or wood.

2. To cause to become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, as by fossilization; to mummify; to deaden.

Ten layers of birthdays on a woman's head Are apt to fossilize her girlish mirth.

Mrs. Browning.

Fos"sil*ize, v. i. 1. To become fossil.

2. To become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, beyond the influence of change or progress.

Fos"sil*ized (?), a. Converted into a fossil; antiquated; firmly fixed in views or opinions.

A fossilized sample of confused provincialism.

Earle.

||Fos*so"res (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fossor&?; digger, fr. fodere to ||dig.] (Zoˆl.) A group of hymenopterous insects including the sand ||wasps. They excavate cells in earth, where they deposit their eggs, ||with the bodies of other insects for the food of the young when ||hatched. [Written also Fossoria.]

||Fos*so"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) See Fossores.

Fos*so"ri*al (?), a. [L. fossor a digger.] Fitted for digging, adapted for burrowing or digging; as, a fossorial foot; a fossorial animal.

Fos*so"ri*ous (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Adapted for digging; -- said of the legs of certain insects.

Fos"su*late (?), a. [L. fossula little ditch, dim. of fossa. See Fosse.] Having, or surrounded by, long, narrow depressions or furrows.

Fos"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fostered (?), p. pr. & vb. n. Fostering.] [OE. fostren, fr. AS. fster, fstor, food, nourishment, fr. fda food. √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.

Fos"ter, v. i. To be nourished or trained up together. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fos"ter, a. [AS. fster, fstor, nourishment. See Foster, v. t.] Relating to nourishment; affording, receiving, or sharing nourishment or nurture; -- applied to father, mother, child, brother, etc., to indicate that the person so called stands in the relation of parent, child, brother, etc., as regards sustenance and nurture, but not by tie of blood.

Foster babe, or child, an infant of child nursed by a woman not its mother, or bred by a man not its father. -- Foster brother, Foster sister, one who is, or has been, nursed at the same breast, or brought up by the same nurse as another, but is not of the same parentage. -- Foster dam, one who takes the place of a mother; a nurse. Dryden. -- Foster earth, earth by which a plant is nourished, though not its native soil. J. Philips. -- Foster father, a man who takes the place of a father in caring for a child. Bacon. -- Foster land. (a) Land allotted for the maintenance of any one. [Obs.] (b) One's adopted country. -- Foster lean [foster + AS. lÊn a loan See Loan.], remuneration fixed for the rearing of a foster child; also, the jointure of a wife. [Obs.] Wharton. -- Foster mother, a woman who takes a mother's place in the nurture and care of a child; a nurse. -- Foster nurse, a nurse; a nourisher. [R.] Shak. -- Foster parent, a foster mother or foster father. -- Foster son, a male foster child.

Fos"ter, n. A forester. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fos"ter*age (?; 48), n. The care of a foster child; the charge of nursing. Sir W. Raleigh.

Fos"ter*er (?), n. One who, or that which, fosters.