fomentation

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a substance used as a warm moist medicinal compress or poultice
  2. noun application of warm wet coverings to a part of the body to relieve pain and inflammation
  3. noun deliberate and intentional triggering (of trouble or discord)

Etymology

From Middle English fōmentāciǒun (“act of fomenting; lotion or poultice applied to a diseased part of the body”), from Late Latin fōmentātiō, fōmentātiōnem, from fōmentāre (from fōmentum (“lotion; compress, poultice; warm application; fomentation”), from foveō (“to warm, keep warm; to cherish, nurture; to bathe, foment”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn; warm, hot”)) + -ātiō, -ātiōnem (suffix forming a noun relating to some action or the result of an action); analysable as foment + -ation.

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