n.
Pronunciation: ' f ə r- ˌ ment also ( ˌ )f ə r- '
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin fermentum yeast ― more at BARM
Date: 15th century
1 a : a living organism (as a yeast) that causes fermentation by virtue of its enzymes b : ENZYME
2 a : a state of unrest : AGITATION b : a process of active often disorderly development <the great period of creative ferment in literature ― William Barrett>