Part 250

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.

Fo`men*ta"tion (?), n. [&?;. fomentatio: cf. F. fomentation.] 1. (Med.) (a) The act of fomenting; the application of warm, soft, medicinal substances, as for the purpose of easing pain, by relaxing the skin, or of discussing tumors. (b) The lotion applied to a diseased part.

2. Excitation; instigation; encouragement.

Dishonest fomentation of your pride.

Young.

Fo*ment"er (?), n. One who foments; one who encourages or instigates; as, a fomenter of sedition.

||Fo"mes (f"mz), n.; pl. Fomites (fm"*tz). [L. fomes, -itis, ||touch-wood, tinder.] (Med.) Any substance supposed to be capable of ||absorbing, retaining, and transporting contagious or infectious ||germs; as, woolen clothes are said to be active fomites.

Fon (fn), n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. fni silly, fna to act silly, Sw. fÂne fool. Cf. Fond, a.] A fool; an idiot. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fond (?), obs. imp. of Find. Found. Chaucer.

Fond, a. [Compar. Fonder (?); superl. Fondest.] [For fonned, p. p. of OE. fonnen to be foolish. See Fon.] 1. Foolish; silly; simple; weak. [Archaic]

Grant I may never prove so fond To trust man on his oath or bond.

Shak.

2. Foolishly tender and loving; weakly indulgent; over-affectionate.

3. Affectionate; loving; tender; -- in a good sense; as, a fond mother or wife. Addison.

4. Loving; much pleased; affectionately regardful, indulgent, or desirous; longing or yearning; -- followed by of (formerly also by on).

More fond on her than she upon her love.

Shak.

You are as fond of grief as of your child.

Shak.

A great traveler, and fond of telling his adventures.

Irving.

5. Doted on; regarded with affection. [R.]