foment

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1. Ferment is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable as a noun and with the stress on the second syllable as a verb.

2. As verbs, ferment and foment are often confused because they are pronounced approximately the same way and their uses overlap in their figurative meanings. To ferment means literally 'to effervesce or cause to effervesce' (from Latin fervēre meaning 'to boil') and figuratively 'to excite or become excited'; and so it can be transitive (with an object) or intransitive: you can ferment trouble or trouble can ferment. Foment means literally 'to bathe with warm or medicated liquid' (from Latin fomentum meaning 'poultice') and figuratively 'to instigate or stir up' (especially trouble). Foment is only transitive: you can foment trouble but trouble cannot foment. Examples:

Gladstone's complaint in 1874 that the opposition fomented by the Daily News had been 'one main cause' of the weakness of his late government was, of course, a simplism—Times Literary Supplement, 1977

He hosted the meetings where the rebellion was fomented which ousted Mrs Thatcher from power—Today, 1992

What are the TUC on about? Why are they fermenting trouble at this of all moments?—People, 2002

They funded courses in car mechanics and carpentry as a chance to own a business for unemployed young men whose frustration was fermenting dangerously—Sunday Times, 2007.

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verb

To stir to action or feeling: egg on, excite, galvanize, goad, impel, incite, inflame, inspire, instigate, motivate, move, pique, prick, prod, prompt, propel, provoke, set off, spur, stimulate, touch off, trigger, work up. See cause/effect, excite/bore/interest.

v

Definition: instigate, provoke
Antonyms: cease, dampen, discourage, dissuade, quell, repress, stop, suppress

IN BRIEF: To instigate or rouse.

The unfair taxes served to foment a rebellion among the citizens.

Tutor's tip: A new way to "ferment" (to cause fermentation or an enzymatic breakdown) grapes into wine would "foment" (to provide; to encourage; to instigate) winemakers to learn how to do it.

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For a list of words related to foment, see:

• Strategy and Tactics - foment: (vb) promote or incite, esp. to create discontent or rebellion

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See words rhyming with "foment."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Foment.

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - lægge varmt omslag på, fremkalde, ophidse til

Nederlands (Dutch)
met warme kompressen behandelen, ophitsen/ stimuleren

Français (French)
v. tr. - (Méd, fig) fomenter

Deutsch (German)
v. - schüren, warm baden

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - επιθέτω κατάπλασμα, υποδαυλίζω

Italiano (Italian)
fomentare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - fomentar

Русский (Russian)
разжигать, подстрекать

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - fomentar, instigar, provocar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - uppamma, badda

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
挑起, 煽动, 激起, 热敷

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 挑起, 煽動, 激起, 熱敷

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - (불화를) 조장하다, 덥게 하다, 찜질하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 湿布する, 醸成する, 誘発する, 助長する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يكمد‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮טיפח (איבה), שם רטייה חמה, חבש, חירחר, חימם, עשה אמבט רפואי חם‬

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