foment

[foh-ment]

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verb (used with object)

to instigate or foster (discord, rebellion, etc.); promote the growth or development of: to foment trouble; to foment discontent.
to apply warm water or medicated liquid, ointments, etc., to (the surface of the body).

Origin of foment

1350–1400; Middle English fomenten < Late Latin fōmentāre, verbal derivative of Latin fōmentum soothing application, poultice, contraction of *fōvimentum, equivalent to fōv(ēre) to keep warm + -i- -i- + -mentum -ment

Related formsfo·ment·er, nounun·fo·ment·ed, adjective

Can be confusedferment foment

Synonyms for foment

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1. incite, provoke, arouse, inflame, excite, stir up; encourage, stimulate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for foment

brew, incite, arouse, abet, set, raise, excite, goad, agitate, start, encourage, foster, nurse, nurture, promote, spur, stimulate, cultivate, quicken

Examples from the Web for foment

Contemporary Examples of foment

Given all of this, Iran is apparently disinclined to foment a political rebellion against Maliki among the Shia.
How Iran and America Can Beat ISIS Together
Ben Van Heuvelen
June 21, 2014
They can exacerbate splits within a ruling leadership, foment popular unrest, or expedite a dwindling current account.
Why Aren’t Sanctions Stopping Putin?
Meghan L. O’Sullivan
May 13, 2014
The Cubans claim Gross was a spy who was trying to foment revolution.
Raul Castro Reaches Out to Obama, But Don’t Call It a Thaw
Eli Lake, Josh Rogin
December 11, 2013
We tried to foment one against Hamas after it won democratic elections among the Palestinians in 2006.
What Obama Should Have Said
Peter Beinart
August 15, 2013
He advocates instead quiet support for Iranian opposition groups that could foment regime change.
Israel’s Top Iran Expert: You Can’t Out-Negotiate the Mullahs
Dan Ephron
October 22, 2012

Historical Examples of foment

If the limbs be swelled, or joints stiff, it will be proper to foment them with warm vinegar, or bathe them in lukewarm water.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
No, Princess; my part is to restore peace, not to foment strife.
Manasseh
Maurus Jokai
Foment with warm water; at night apply a bread and milk poultice.
The Ladies Book of Useful Information
Anonymous
If there is pain in the region of the liver, foment that region more strongly.
Papers on Health
John Kirk
Foment the corn every other night in warm water, after which renew the application.
The Toilet of Flora
Pierre-Joseph Buc'hoz

British Dictionary definitions for foment

foment

verb (tr)

to encourage or instigate (trouble, discord, etc); stir up
med to apply heat and moisture to (a part of the body) to relieve pain and inflammation

Derived Formsfomentation (ˌfəʊmɛnˈteɪʃən), nounfomenter, noun

Word Origin for foment

C15: from Late Latin fōmentāre, from Latin fōmentum a poultice, ultimately from fovēre to foster

usage

Both foment and ferment can be used to talk about stirring up trouble: he was accused of fomenting/fermenting unrest . Only ferment can be used intransitively or as a noun: his anger continued to ferment (not foment); rural areas were unaffected by the ferment in the cities

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for foment

early 15c., "apply hot liquids," from Old French fomenter (13c.) "apply hot compress (to a wound)," from Late Latin fomentare, from Latin fomentum "warm application, poultice," contraction of *fovimentum, from fovere "to warm; cherish, encourage" (see fever). Extended sense of "stimulate, instigate" (1620s) was in the French. Related: Fomented; fomenting.