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View synonyms for foment

foment

[ foh-ment ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to instigate or foster (discord, rebellion, etc.); promote the growth or development of:

    to foment trouble; to foment discontent.

    Synonyms: provoke, incite, stimulate, encourage, excite, inflame, arouse

  2. to apply warm water or medicated liquid, ointments, etc., to (the surface of the body).


foment

/ fəˈmɛnt; ˌfəʊmɛnˈteɪʃən /

verb

  1. to encourage or instigate (trouble, discord, etc); stir up
  2. med to apply heat and moisture to (a part of the body) to relieve pain and inflammation


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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

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Derived Forms

  • fomentation, noun
  • foˈmenter, noun

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Other Words From

  • fo·menter noun
  • unfo·mented adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of foment1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fomenten, from Late Latin fōmentāre, verbal derivative of Latin fōmentum “soothing application, poultice,” contraction of unattested fōvimentum, equivalent to fōv(ēre) “to keep warm” + -i- -i- + -mentum -ment

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Word History and Origins

Origin of foment1

C15: from Late Latin fōmentāre , from Latin fōmentum a poultice, ultimately from fovēre to foster

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Example Sentences

More importantly, he has frustrated other separatists and those who would foment separatist movements, like China and Russia.

Given all of this, Iran is apparently disinclined to foment a political rebellion against Maliki among the Shia.

They can exacerbate splits within a ruling leadership, foment popular unrest, or expedite a dwindling current account.

The Cubans claim Gross was a spy who was trying to foment revolution.

We tried to foment one against Hamas after it won democratic elections among the Palestinians in 2006.

Jenny brought in a large basin of warm water and began to foment it first, touching it so tenderly.

There will always be barbarians and cheats who will foment intolerance; but they will not avow it—and that is something gained.

They have also a pious ambition for religious ascendancy, and do what they can to foment a holy zeal against Nonconformists.

There is one thing that would ease the pain and heal the leg all the sooner, and that is plenty of hot water to foment the part.

Riel, the leader, escaped, to return later and foment another outbreak in 1885.

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Fomalhautfomentation