Fo‐ment″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Fomented; p. pr. & vb. n.Fomenting.] [F. fomenter, fr. L. fomentare, fr. fomentum (for fovimentum) a warm application or lotion, fr. fovere to warm or keep warm; perh. akin to Gr. � to roast, and E. bake.] 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.
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. Locke.
But quench the choler you foment in vain. Dryden.
Exciting and fomenting a religious rebellion. Southey.