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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024fo•ment /foʊˈmɛnt/USA pronunciation v. [~ + object]- to start or foster:to foment distrust and rebellion.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024fo•ment (fō ment′),USA pronunciation v.t. - 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).
- Late Latin fōmentāre, verb, verbal derivative of Latin fōmentum soothing application, poultice, contraction of *fōvimentum, equivalent. to fōv(ēre) to keep warm + -i- -i- + -mentum -ment
- Middle English fomenten 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged incite, provoke, arouse, inflame, excite, stir up; encourage, stimulate.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: foment /fəˈmɛnt/ vb (transitive)- to encourage or instigate (trouble, discord, etc); stir up
- to apply heat and moisture to (a part of the body) to relieve pain and inflammation
Etymology: 15th Century: from Late Latin fōmentāre, from Latin fōmentum a poultice, ultimately from fovēre to fosterfomentation /ˌfəʊmɛnˈteɪʃən/ n foˈmenter n 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 |