foment
[foh-ment]
- 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).
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Origin of foment
Synonyms
See more synonyms for foment on Thesaurus.com1. incite, provoke, arouse, inflame, excite, stir up; encourage, stimulate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for foment
Contemporary Examples
Given all of this, Iran is apparently disinclined to foment a political rebellion against Maliki among the Shia.
They can exacerbate splits within a ruling leadership, foment popular unrest, or expedite a dwindling current account.
The Cubans claim Gross was a spy who was trying to foment revolution.
We tried to foment one against Hamas after it won democratic elections among the Palestinians in 2006.
He advocates instead quiet support for Iranian opposition groups that could foment regime change.
Historical Examples
If the limbs be swelled, or joints stiff, it will be proper to foment them with warm vinegar, or bathe them in lukewarm water.
No, Princess; my part is to restore peace, not to foment strife.
ManassehMaurus Jokai
Foment with warm water; at night apply a bread and milk poultice.
If there is pain in the region of the liver, foment that region more strongly.
Papers on HealthJohn Kirk
Foment the corn every other night in warm water, after which renew the application.
The Toilet of FloraPierre-Joseph Buc'hoz
foment
- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for foment
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper