▪ I. ˈfoment, n. Now rare.
In 7 foement.
[ad. L. fōmentum, contraction for *fovimentum, f. fovēre to cherish, warm.]
1. = fomentation 1 b.
| 1540 R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. i. ix. I iv, Those superfluous sauors & fomentes of the body. 1643 J. Steer tr. Exp. Chyrurg. xii. 47 Apply this following Foment. 1892 Pall Mall G. 21 Jan. 1/3 Ameliorating the symptoms by hot foments, mustard applications, and wet-sheet packings. |
† 2. fig. Fomentation, encouragement. Obs.
| 1642 Quarles Observ. Princes & St. iv, Long-settled humors give foment to the distemper when it breakes forth. |
† b. Some thing that foments or encourages; stimulus. Obs.
| 1604 T. Wright Passions i. iv. 15 They rather serve them for instruments of vertue, than foments of vice. 1658 R. Creshald Legacy 10 Which by the distemper gave Foment and force to the approaching Maladie. 1660 More Myst. Godl. To Rdr. 14 The foments of strife and palliations of Hypocrisy. 1704 Expedient for Innocence in Harl. Misc. (1746) VIII. 13/1 What more seasonable Charity, than to abstract the Foment from these accursed Divisions, by prohibiting those Oaths, that..perpetuate our Janglings? |
¶ 3. ? Confused with ferment 3.
| 1793 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) III. 527 Should the present foment in Europe not produce republics everywhere. |
▪ II. foment, v.
(fəʊˈmɛnt)
[ad. Fr. foment-er, ad. late L. fōmentāre, f. fōmentum foment n.]
1. trans. To bathe with warm or medicated lotions; to apply fomentations to. Also, † to lubricate.
| 1611 Cotgr, Bassiner, to warme, foment. 1643 J. Steer tr. Exp. Chyrurg. xii. 47 Foment the place affected with the following foment. 1656 Ridgley Pract. Physick 131 Foment it with white wax. 1748 tr. Vegetius' Distemp. Horses 144 You shall foment it for the Space of four Days. 1802 Med. Jrnl. VIII. 516 The breasts were frequently fomented. 1894 Sir F. Fitzwygram Horses & Stables §255 The leg.. may be conveniently fomented by putting it in a deep bucket of warm water. |
| absol. 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 303 Foment not too long at any one time. |
† 2. ‘To cherish with heat, to warm’ (J.). Always in conjunction with another verb, as chafe, heat, warm. Obs.
| 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche i. clv, Creeps chillness on him? She foments and heats His flesh. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 669 All things..these soft fires..foment and warme. |
† 3. To rouse or stir up (a person or his energies); to excite, irritate. Obs.
| 1642 R. Carpenter Experience v. xix. 326, I was active..fomented with your envenomed suggestions. 1680 Otway Orphan iv. v. 1506 Still Chaft and fomented let my heart swell on. 1704 Swift Batt. Bks. (1711) 226 By its Bitterness and Venom..to foment the Genius of the Combatants. 1724 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 127 The old general, not to foment him, with a great deal of mildness stood up. |
† b. intr. for refl.: To become excited or heated.
| 1665 J. Webb Stone-Heng 16 In like manner, this Doctor fomenteth, saying; The one stumbles upon an Alter-stone..over which the other leaped clearly. 1680 Otway Orphan v. ii. 1851 To think Of Women were enough to taint my Brains, Till they foment to madness. |
4. a. To promote the growth, development, effect, or spread of (something material or physical).
| 1644 Quarles Barnabas & B. 150 That humour which foments thy malady. 1661 Burning of Lond. in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793) 463 A violent easterly wind fomented it, and kept it burning all that day. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 1071 How we his gather'd beams Reflected, may with matter sere foment. 1707 Curios. Husb. & Gard. 180 Plants receive from their Roots this Nitre, which feeds, foments and preserves them. 1725 Pope Odyss. xix. 77 While those with unctuous fir foment the flame. |
b. To cherish, cultivate, foster; to stimulate, encourage, instigate (a sentiment, belief, pursuit, course of conduct, etc.). Esp. in a bad sense.
| 1622 Bacon Hen. VII, 12 Which bruite was cunningly fomented by such as desired innouation. 1664 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 164 His Majesty..offers himself as a third to foment so amiable a controversy. 1725 Pope Odyss. xi. 226 Thy sire in solitude foments his care. 1726–7 Swift Gulliver i. iv, These civil commotions were constantly fomented by the monarchs of Blefuscu. 1774 Fletcher Equal Check Wks. 1795 IV. p. v, Is not the Antinomianism of hearers fomented by that of preachers? 1868 M. Pattison Academ. Org. iv. 75 To encourage indolence or foment extravagance. 1873 H. Rogers Orig. Bible ii. (1875) 59 Persecutions which the Jews always fomented. |
Hence foˈmenting vbl. n. Also attrib.
| 1611 Cotgr., Bassinement, warming, a fomentation or fomenting. 1894 Sir F. Fitzwygram Horses & Stables §255 During the fomentation a thick rug should be thrown over the fomenting cloth. |