
(尤指在背后)煽动、挑起(不满、骚乱、争端等);使(事态)滋长、恶化。常见搭配:foment unrest/violence/dissent。
/foment/
They accused him of trying to foment trouble at work.
他们指责他企图在工作中挑起事端。
Economic inequality can foment resentment that later turns into protest.
经济不平等会滋生怨恨,之后可能演变为抗议。
源自拉丁语 fomentum,本义与“温敷、热敷”有关,来自 fovēre(加热、温暖、抚育)。由“用热使之更旺”引申为“助长、促使某种情绪或局势发展”,在现代英语中多用于负面语境,如“煽动动乱”。