I. fə(r)ˈment, |fər|m-, |fə̄|m-, |fəi|m- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English fermenten, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fermenter, from Latin fermentare to cause to rise or ferment, from fermentum, n.
intransitive verb
1. : to undergo fermentation : work
spores survive and the fruit ferments
2.
a. : to be in a state of individual or social ferment : be inwardly active
everything ferments in him — his thoughts, sensations, and memories; nothing stays quiet — Janet Flanner
: become mentally or emotionally agitated
the squire continued fermenting to the highest degree of exasperation — T.L.Peacock
: seethe ; also : to undergo a process of ferment : develop by agitated inner activity
but underneath things will be fermenting, basic decisions shaping up that will have far-reaching effects — Kiplinger Washington Letter
still have a novel fermenting in my system — Virginia D. Dawson & Betty D. Wilson
b. : to act as a ferment in an individual or society : arouse agitation or promote change
the idea of the self-rule of the people took hold and fermented vigorously
transitive verb
1. : to cause to undergo fermentation
enzymes that ferment tobacco
2.
a. : to produce or bring to maturity as if by fermentation
oppressive poverty fermented violent discontent
travel and reflection fermented his already full mind
b. : to cause ferment (as of emotion) in : work into a state of ferment : agitate , excite , foment
quick-spreading rumors fermented the city and violence soon broke out
II. ˈfərˌment, ˈfə̄ˌm-, ˈfəiˌm- sometimes ˌ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ or _fə(r)ˈm- or chiefly Brit ˈ ̷ ̷_mənt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin fermentum leaven, yeast — more at barm
1.
a. : an agent capable of bringing about fermentation and other metabolic processes:
(1) : a living organism (as a yeast or bacterium) that acts by virtue of its enzymes — called also organized ferment ; used chiefly commercially; compare starter 3d
(2) : enzyme — called also unorganized ferment
b. : a person or thing that stimulates agitation or the active working out of change in an individual or society
the possessive instinct, the most violent of ferments — Havelock Ellis
the active ferment at work in China … was that of nationalism — Times Literary Supplement
2.
a. : fermentation 1
b. : a state of unrest : agitation , excitement , tumult
that ferment in the air which accompanies an election — John Buchan
she was thrown into a ferment by his unexpected arrival
also : a process of active often disorderly development in an individual life or in a society : the painful or disturbing transition from old to new
a continent in ferment , awakening to a new era after centuries of stagnation — Tad Szulc
the great period of creative ferment in literature — William Barrett