Ferment — Defs

01 n. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer.

1.
That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer.
2.
Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation.
“Subdue and cool the ferment of desire.” — Rogers.

“the nation is in a ferment.” — Walpole.
3.
A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation.[R.]
“Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran.” — Thomson.

Phrases & compounds

ferment oils — volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchemists.

02 v. t. To cause ferment or fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat.

imp. & p. p. Fermented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fermenting

1.
To cause ferment or fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat.
“Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood.” — Pope.

03 v. i. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent particles of an animal or vege…

1.
To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent particles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce.
2.
To be agitated or excited by violent emotions.
“But finding no redress, ferment and rage.” — Milton.

“The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect.” — De Quincey.