Main Entry: fo·ment Pronunciation: 'fO-"ment, fO-' Function: transitive verb Etymology: Middle English fomenten to apply a warm substance to, from Late Latin fomentare, from Latin fomentum compress, from fovEre to heat, soothe; akin to Lithuanian degti to burn, Sanskrit dahati it burns Date: circa 1613
: to promote the growth or development of : ROUSE, INCITE synonym see INCITE