Ferment /(?)/

Fer·ment

Ferment

n.
  1. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer.
  2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation.
    Subdue and cool the ferment of desire.
    the nation is in a ferment.
  3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation. [R.]
    Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran.

Phrases & Compounds
ferment oils
volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchemists.

Ferment

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Fermented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fermenting

  1. To cause ferment or fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat.
    Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood.

Ferment

v. i.
  1. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent particles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce.
  2. To be agitated or excited by violent emotions.
    But finding no redress, ferment and rage.
    The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect.