Fo-mĕnt’, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. FOMENTED; p. pr. & vb. n. FOMENTING.] [Fr. fomenter, Pr., Sp., & Pg. fomentar, It. & Lat. fomentare, from Lat. fomentum, a warm application or lotion, for fovimentum, from fovere, to warm or keep warm.]
Sense 1. To apply warm lotions to; to bathe with warm water or medicated liquors.
Sense 2. To cherish with heat. [Obs.]
Which these soft fires, with kindly heat, Of various influence foment and warm. Milton.
Sense 3. To cherish and promote by excitements; to encourage; to abet;—used often in a bad sense; as, to foment ill humors. Locke.
But quench the choler you foment in vain. Dryden.
Exciting and fomenting a religious rebellion. Southey.