The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Foment \Fo"ment\, n.
   1. Fomentation.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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

            He came in no conciliatory mood, and the foment was
            kept up.                              --Julian
                                                  Ralph.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To cherish with heat; to foster. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Which these soft fires . . . foment and warm.
                                                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            But quench the choler you foment in vain. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

            Exciting and fomenting a religious rebellion.
                                                  --Southey.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

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