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foment

fo·ment
F f

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [foh-ment]
    • /foʊˈmɛnt/
    • /fəʊˈment/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [foh-ment]
    • /foʊˈmɛnt/

Definitions of foment word

  • verb with object foment to instigate or foster (discord, rebellion, etc.); promote the growth or development of: to foment trouble; to foment discontent. 1
  • verb with object foment to apply warm water or medicated liquid, ointments, etc., to (the surface of the body). 1
  • noun foment Instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action). 1
  • transitive verb foment stir up: unrest, etc. 1
  • verb foment If someone or something foments trouble or violent opposition, they cause it to develop. 0
  • verb foment to encourage or instigate (trouble, discord, etc); stir up 0

Information block about the term

Origin of foment

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English fomenten < Late Latin fōmentāre, verbal derivative of Latin fōmentum soothing application, poultice, contraction of *fōvimentum, equivalent to fōv(ēre) to keep warm + -i- -i- + -mentum -ment

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Foment

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

foment popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 80% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

foment usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for foment

verb foment

  • brew — If you brew tea or coffee, you make it by pouring hot water over tea leaves or ground coffee.
  • incite — to stir, encourage, or urge on; stimulate or prompt to action: to incite a crowd to riot.
  • arouse — If something arouses a particular reaction or attitude in people, it causes them to have that reaction or attitude.
  • abet — If one person abets another, they help or encourage them to do something criminal or wrong. Abet is often used in the legal expression 'aid and abet'.
  • whip up — to beat with a strap, lash, rod, or the like, especially by way of punishment or chastisement; flog; thrash: Criminals used to be whipped for minor offenses.

noun foment

  • shake-up — a thorough change in a business, department, or the like, as by dismissals, demotions, etc.
  • turnover — an act or result of turning over; upset.
  • revolution — an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.

Antonyms for foment

verb foment

  • deter — To deter someone from doing something means to make them not want to do it or continue doing it.
  • dissuade — to deter by advice or persuasion; persuade not to do something (often followed by from): She dissuaded him from leaving home.
  • destroy — To destroy something means to cause so much damage to it that it is completely ruined or does not exist any more.
  • ignore — to refrain from noticing or recognizing: to ignore insulting remarks.
  • repress — to keep under control, check, or suppress (desires, feelings, actions, tears, etc.).

Top questions with foment

  • what does foment mean?
  • what is foment?
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See also

Matching words

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