Also 6 fermente, 7 firment. [a. Fr. ferment, ad.L. fermentum, f. root of ferv-ēre to boil.]
1. orig. Leaven or yeast. Hence gen. an agent which causes fermentation (see FERMENTATION 1).
Modern chemists recognize two classes of ferments: organized ferments, which are living vegetable organisms, as the yeast plant and other microscopic fungi; and unorganized or chemical ferments, which are certain compounds of organic origin, as diastase, pepsin, etc.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 524.
| Use this ferment | |
| For musty brede. |
1683. Robinson, in Ray’s Corr. (1848), 10 Sept., 138. The venom of these scorpions, of vipers, and many other animals, may chiefly consist in a subtle acid ferment.
1774. J. Bryant, A New System; or, an Analysis of Ancient Mythology, II. 59. He [Osiris] particularly introduced the vine: and where that was not adapted to the soil, he taught the natives the use of ferment, and shewed them the way to make wine of barley, little inferior to the juice of the grape.
1807. Med. Jrnl., XVII. 198. Hence he concludes, that albumen, whether animal or vegetable, is the true ferment.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sc. (1879), I. v. 138. He [Pasteur] proved the real ‘ferments’ to be organised beings which find in the reputed ferments their necessary food.
fig. 1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 267. The leaven, therefore, and ferment of all, not only civil, but religious actions, is wisdom; without which, to commit ourselves to the flames is homicide, and, I fear, but to pass through one fire into another.
1690. Locke, Govt., II. xix. (Rtldg.), 224. This hypothesis lays a ferment for frequent rebellion.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., ix. 173. Gentle ferments working in our breasts, without which we should settle in inactivity.
1877. Tyndall, in Daily News, 2 Oct., 2/5. The exaltation and the yearning are man’s imperishable possession—a ferment long confined to individuals, but which may by and by become the leaven of the race.
† b. spec. in Alchemy (cf. FERMENTATION 1 b); sometimes applied to the ‘philosopher’s stone.’ Also in cosmological speculations (see quot. 1677).
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., IX. in Ashm. (1652), 175.
| For like as flowre of wheate made into paste | |
| Requireth ferment, which leauen we call | |
| Of bread, that it may haue the kindly taste, | |
| And become foode to man and woman cordiall. |
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., II. ii.
| Face. The evening will set red upon you, sir; | |
| You have colour for it, crimson: the red ferment | |
| Has done his office. |
1677. Phil. Trans., XII. 884. By Ferments he means the aforesaid Principles, (or Seminal sparks hidden in matter) actually put into motion, and by the variety of that motion producing the variety of bodies.
1677. Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, II. vii. 193. Those Shells arise de novo, not barely from the Plastick power of the Earth … but from certain Seminal Ferments brought thither.
2. = FERMENTATION 1.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. vii. 28. The more strong the wine shal be, the more sharpe the ferment of the vineger, and the more vehement the tartnesse thereof will shewe it selfe.
1695. Blackmore, Prince Arthur, II. 75.
| He through the Mass a mighty Ferment spread, | |
| And where it came mis-shap’d Confusion fled. |
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 208. All Evacuations of Humours cool the Blood, and stop the Pulse by abating the Ferment and Quantity of Humours.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Quinquina, Stopping the Ferment of Intermitting Fevers.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 111. In the first ferment of new wine or mustum, the ancients were wont to sprinkle it with powdered rosin, which gave it a certain sprightliness.
3. fig. Agitation, excitement, tumult; = FERMENTATION 2.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 19. At that time the Ecclesiastical Rigours here were in the highest ferment, and the Church in being arrayed it self against the peaceable Dissenters only in some points of Worship.
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., 140.
| Several Factions from this first Ferment, | |
| Work up to Foam, and threat the Government. |
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxx. III. 88. The minister … attempted to allay the general ferment.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., ix. 240. A ferment of sinister feelings, quite incompatible with the simplicity and purity of Christian virtue.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 20. The foreign embassies were all in a ferment.
