Foment

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /fəʊˈmÉ›nt/
• US IPA: /foʊˈmÉ›nt/, /fəˈmÉ›nt/
• Homophones: ferment in some dialects, unstressed

Origin

From Old French fomenter, from Late Latin fomentare, from Latin fomentum ("lotion"), from fovere ("heat, cherish").

Full definition of foment

Verb

1. To incite or cause troublesome acts; to encourage; to instigate.He was arrested for fomenting a riot; after all, it's bad enough being in a riot but starting one is much worse.
2. (medicine) To apply a poultice to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge.
• 1904, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Abbey Grange, Norton (2005), page 1178,The maid had entered with us, and began once more to foment the bruise upon her mistress's brow.

Derived terms

• fomentation