Fo"ment (?), n. 1.
Fomentation.
2. State of excitation; -- perh. confused
with ferment.
He came in no conciliatory mood, and the foment
was kept up.
Julian Ralph.
Fo*ment" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Fomented; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fomenting.] [F. fomenter, fr. L. fomentare, fr.
fomentum (for fovimentum) a warm application or lotion,
fr. fovere to warm or keep warm; perh. akin to Gr. &?; to
roast, and E. bake.] 1. To apply a warm
lotion to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge wet with warm water or
medicated liquid.
2. To cherish with heat; to foster.
[Obs.]
Which these soft fires . . . foment and
warm.
Milton.
3. To nurse to life or activity; to cherish
and promote by excitements; to encourage; to abet; to instigate; --
used often in a bad sense; as, to foment ill humors.
Locke.
But quench the choler you foment in
vain.
Dryden.
Exciting and fomenting a religious
rebellion.
Southey.
Fo"ment (?), n. 1.
Fomentation.
2. State of excitation; -- perh. confused
with ferment.
He came in no conciliatory mood, and the foment
was kept up.
Julian Ralph.
