FERMENT

I. verb Date: 14th century intransitive verb to undergo ~ation, to be in a state of agitation or intense activity, transitive verb to cause to undergo ~ation, to work up (as into a state of agitation) ; foment , ~able adjective II. noun see: barm Date: 15th century 1. a living organism (as a yeast) that causes ~ation by virtue of its enzymes, enzyme , 2. a state of unrest ; agitation, a process of active often disorderly development