Foment /(?)/

Fo·ment

Foment

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Fomented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fomenting

  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.
  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.
    But quench the choler you foment in vain.
    Exciting and fomenting a religious rebellion.

Foment

n.
  1. Fomentation.
  2. State of excitation; -- perh. confused with ferment.
    He came in no conciliatory mood, and the foment was kept up.