Foment — Defs

01 v. t. To apply a warm lotion to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge wet with warm water or medicated liquid.

imp. & p. p. Fomented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fomenting

1.
To apply a warm lotion to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge wet with warm water or medicated liquid.
2.
To cherish with heat; to foster.[Obs.]
“Which these soft fires . . . foment and warm.” — Milton.
3.
To nurse to life or activity; to cherish and promote by excitements; to encourage; to abet; to instigate; -- used often in a bad sense; as, to foment ill humors.
“But quench the choler you foment in vain.” — Dryden.

“Exciting and fomenting a religious rebellion.” — Southey.

02 n. Fomentation.

1.
Fomentation.
2.
State of excitation; -- perh. confused with ferment.
“He came in no conciliatory mood, and the foment was kept up.” — Julian Ralph.