fomentationn.
/ˌfəʊmɛnˈteɪʃn/, /ˌfəʊm(ə)nˈteɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌfoʊmɛnˈteɪʃən/, /ˌfoʊmənˈteɪʃən/ 1.
a. Medicine. The action or process of applying a heated therapeutic preparation, typically in the form of a moistened poultice or pad of material, to the surface of the body, to relieve swelling, inflammation, or pain; an instance of this. Occasionally also: the action or process of bathing or soaking a part of the body in heated liquid; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatments using water > [noun] > treatment by bathing, sprinkling, or fomenting
fomenta1398
fomentationa1400
embrocation1543
irrigation1617
pump-bathing1744
dry pumping1840
nebulization1968
perifusion1969
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 252 Þou schalt make a fomentacioun wiþ hoot water.
?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) f. 185 (MED) When þat þe fomentacioun [L. fomentacione] is done by an houre, drye þe membre.
?1541 R. Copland Formularie of Helpes of Woundes & Sores in Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens sig. Xjv Fomentacyon with oyle and terebentyne medled & warmed.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. xxxiv. 50 In manner of a fomentation or a warme bathe.
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 289 Fomentation with sponges in vineger.
1714 J. Purcell Treat. Cholick 133 Flannel, or a Thin Woollen Cloth worn next to the Skin..is a lesser kind of perpetual Fomentation.
1801 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 5 578 Fomentations with water.
1912 Trained Nurse & Hosp. Rev. May 299/1 Fomentations to the spine before retiring for sedative effect must be soothing.
2008 J. Trout Cancer & You 65 Do the hot fomentations until you get relief.
b.
(a) A heated therapeutic preparation or liquid used in this process. Cf. foment n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > equipment for treating wound or ulcer > [noun] > fomentation
fomentationa1400
stupea1400
stopine1582
stupa1602
fotus1616
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 321 Make a vomentacioun of camomille, malue, & bismalue.
1526 Grete Herball sig. D.ivv/1 And for to clense the matryce, & to helpe concepcyon make a warme fomentacyon of water that it hath be soden in.
1642 J. Steer tr. Fabricius Exper. Chyrurg. xv. 58 Boyle them in the Broth..for a Fomentation.
1721 W. Gibson Farriers Dispensatory iii. xi. 249 Fomentations are made only with aqueous Menstruums, whereas Embrocations consist of [etc.].
1774 W. Buchan Domest. Med. (ed. 3) xxxi. 338 Flannels wrung out of warm spirituous fomentations should likewise be applied.
1850 J. F. South Househ. Surg. (ed. 2) 24 Another dry fomentation is made by filling a bag with salt, and holding it before the fire till thoroughly heated.
1894 F. Fitzwygram Horses & Stables §314 Hot water makes the best fomentation.
1958 Nursing (St. John Ambulance Assoc.) x. 118 Some people cover the fomentation with a piece of thin mackintosh protective, such as jaconet, before putting on the wool, but this is not very commonly done today.
2009 J. Bruton-Seal & M. Seal Backyard Med. p. xviii/2 Hot fomentations need to be refreshed frequently once they cool down.
(b) In figurative contexts: something likened to a fomentation or poultice in that it soothes or heals. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1587 J. Bridges Def. Govt. Church of Eng. iii. 323 Those that in the conflict had fallen should be healed with brotherly mercy, and be helped with the fomentations of repentaunce.
1593 Queen Elizabeth I tr. Boethius De Consolatione Philosophiæ in Queen Elizabeth's Englishings (1899) 30 Because the fomentations of my reason haue entred in the.
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1962) X. 88 Our workes..cleave to us; whether as fomentations to nourish us, or as corrasives, to gnaw upon us.
?1705 W. Coward Just Scrutiny 25 The only Fomentation, beyond all Chyrurgical ones, that can clear the stains, and discover the Nobility of the Soul.
1965 tr. Alcuin in Stud. Philol. 62 513 What shall I do, but weep my dying one, in the chance that perhaps by the fomentations of scalding tears [L. calidis lacrimarum fomentis] he may yet be resurrected.
2. † a. A stimulus; something that prompts or influences a particular state or situation. Often with to. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > incitement or instigation > that which incites or instigates
prickleOE
pritchOE
alighting1340
brodc1375
bellowsc1386
pricka1387
motivec1390
prompting1402
preparativec1450
stirmentc1460
incentive?a1475
fomenta1500
farda1522
instigation1526
pointing1533
swinge1548
spur1551
whetstone1551
goad1567
promptitude1578
alarm1587
inducement1593
solicitor1594
incitement1596
inflammation1597
instance1597
excitement1604
moving spirit1604
heart-blood1606
inflamer1609
rouser1611
stimulator1614
motioner1616
incensivea1618
incitative1620
incitation1622
whettera1625
impulsivea1628
excitation1628
incendiary1628
dispositive1629
fomentationa1631
switch1630
stirrer1632
irritament1634
provocative1638
impetus1641
driving force1642
driving power1642
engagement1642
firer1653
propellant1654
fomentary1657
impulse1660
urgency1664
impeller1686
fillip1699
shove1724
incitive1736
stimulative1747
bonus1787
stimulus1791
impellent1793
stimulant1794
propulsion1800
instigant1833
propulsive1834
motive power1836
evoker1845
motivity1857
afflatus1865
flip1881
urge1882
agent provocateur1888
will to power1896
a shot in the arm1922
motivator1929
driver1971
co-driver1993
a1631 J. Donne Βιαθανατος (1647) i. i. §8 Denying to it lawfull refreshings, and fomentations.
1654 A. Cokayne tr. G. F. Loredano Dianea iv. 282 Rewards and punishments are ordinarily fomentations to the greatest resistances.
1659 C. Noble Inexpediency of Exped. 5 Unless the..slie Redarguings..be a rise and fomentation to such a Dispute.
b. The action or process of fomenting or stimulating, esp. something bad; encouragement; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > incitement or instigation
puttingOE
sleatinga1122
eggingc1200
pricking?c1225
enticement1303
movinga1382
eggmentc1386
stirring1399
instinct1412
instigationc1422
motiona1425
provocationa1425
coyingc1440
ertingc1440
tollingc1440
artation1441
incitation1477
instinction1490
inhortationc1503
stimulation1526
abetment1533
onsetting1541
provokement?1545
incitament1579
stirring?c1580
irritation1589
incitement1594
spurring1611
to give foment to1613
fomenting1615
prompturea1616
proritation1615
urgea1618
exstimulation1626
fomentation1633
instinctment1661
spurning1672
impulsing1885
1633 W. Prynne Histrio-mastix i. 327 The third effect or fruit of Stage-playes, is the irritation, the inflamation, the fomentation of divers sinfull lusts.
1671 A. Marvell Let. 18 Feb. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 269 I am..well pleasd to find him & Mr Whittington jealous of one another wch shall not want fomentation.
1743 E. Young Complaint: Night the Fifth 44 Dishonest Fomentation of your Pride.
1768 Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser 2 July A fomentation of dissentions and animosities, which may arise from different interests and court influence.
1861 Times 29 Aug. The fomentation of Hungarian discontent by foreign intrigues.
2017 Malta Independent (Nexis) 31 Dec. Intent only on misinformation and the fomentation of hatred.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > [noun]
heating1398
fomenting?a1425
warmingc1440
calefaction1547
chafing1580
riscaldation1599
excalfaction1607
fomentation1657
1657 R. Turner tr. C. H. Nuisement Sal, Lumen, & Spiritus Mundi Philosophici i. v. 33 Corruption arises upon the action of Heat over Moisture, and Generation follows upon Corruption; as we may see in the small Body of an Egg, wherein, by the heat of Fomentation [Fr. fomentation] and Incubation, the Sperm putrefies, and afterwards the Chicken is coagulated and formed.
1669 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. I iii. iii. 42 The Fomentation of an Hen, that sets abrood.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1400