Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Foment \Fo"ment\, n.
   1. Fomentation.

   2. State of excitation; -- perh. confused with ferment.

            He came in no conciliatory mood, and the foment was
            kept up.                              --Julian
                                                  Ralph.

Foment \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. [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.

Source : WordNet®

foment
     v 1: try to stir up public opinion [syn: {agitate}, {stir up}]
     2: bathe with warm water or medicated lotions; "His legs should
        be fomented"