foment

Foment, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fomented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fomenting.]

Etymology: [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. 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. [Obs.] 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.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for foment; he lists it under promote.

Where he writes about it:

One who excites a quarrel originates it; to promote a quarrel is strictly to foment and urge it on, the one who promotes keeping himself in the background. — from promote

Synonyms

promote advance aid assist elevate encourage exalt excite forward foster further help prefer push push on raise urge forward urge on

Antonyms

abase abate allay

etymology Webster’s online