Definition of "foster-mother" [foster-mother]

• A woman who takes the place of the mother in suckling and bringing up a child; a nurse. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "But Rome is my foster-mother, and were I untrue to her, of little pride, of little worth would be my love for you."
• "But even beyond that, it was more the people that I met later on in life that were such a great influence on me, like y foster-mother, Betsey Shirley."
• "They were spiritual orphans then, not yet embracing, as foster-mother, the Catholic church."