foment
verb
- encourage revolution
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /fəʊˈmɛnt/ / /foʊˈmɛnt/ / /fəˈmɛnt/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English fomenten, a borrowing from Old French fomenter, from Late Latin fōmentāre, from Latin fōmentum (“lotion”), from fovēre (“heat, cherish”).
- Fomentation.
“He came in no conciliatory mood, and the foment was kept up.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English fomenten, a borrowing from Old French fomenter, from Late Latin fōmentāre, from Latin fōmentum (“lotion”), from fovēre (“heat, cherish”).
- To incite or cause troublesome acts; to encourage; to instigate.
“He was arrested for fomenting a riot; after all, it's bad enough being in a riot but starting one is much worse.”
“Foreign governments have tried to foment unrest.”
- To apply a poultice to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge.
“Sties in the eye are irritating and disfiguring. Foment with warm water; at night apply a bread-and-milk poultice.”
“The maid had entered with us, and began once more to foment the bruise upon her mistress's brow.”