Chapter 12

2. Belonging to an individual of the female sex; characteristic of woman; feminine; as, female tenderness. "Female usurpation.'b8 Milton.

To the generous decision of a female mind, we owe the discovery of America.

Belknap.

3. (Bot.) Having pistils and no stamens; pistillate; or, in cryptogamous plants, capable of receiving fertilization.

Female rhymes (Pros.), double rhymes, or rhymes (called in French feminine rhymes because they end in e weak, or feminine) in which two syllables, an accented and an unaccented one, correspond at the end of each line.

A rhyme, in which the final syllables only agree (strain, complain) is called a male rhyme; one in which the two final syllables of each verse agree, the last being short (motion, ocean), is called female. Brande & C.

-- Female screw, the spiral-threaded cavity into which another, or male, screw turns. Nicholson. -- Female fern (Bot.), a common species of fern with large decompound fronds (Asplenium FilixfÊmina), growing in many countries; lady fern.

The names male fern and female fern were anciently given to two common ferns; but it is now understood that neither has any sexual character.

Syn. -- Female, Feminine. We apply female to the sex or individual, as opposed to male; also, to the distinctive belongings of women; as, female dress, female form, female character, etc.; feminine, to things appropriate to, or affected by, women; as, feminine studies, employments, accomplishments, etc. "Female applies to sex rather than gender, and is a physiological rather than a grammatical term. Feminine applies to gender rather than sex, and is grammatical rather than physiological." Latham.

Fe"mal*ist (?), n. A gallant. [Obs.]

Courting her smoothly like a femalist.

Marston.

Fe"mal*ize (?), v. t. To make, or to describe as, female or feminine. Shaftesbury.

||Feme (fm or fm), n. [OF. feme, F. femme.] (Old Law) A woman. Burrill.

Feme covert (Law), a married woman. See Covert, a., 3. -- Feme sole (Law), a single or unmarried woman; a woman who has never been married, or who has been divorced, or whose husband is dead. -- Feme sole trader or merchant (Eng. Law), a married woman, who, by the custom of London, engages in business on her own account, inpendently of her husband.

Fem"er*al (?), n. (Arch.) See Femerell.

Fem"er*ell (?), n. [OF. fumeraille part of a chimney. See Fume.] (Arch.) A lantern, or louver covering, placed on a roof, for ventilation or escape of smoke.

Fem"i*nal (?), a. Feminine. [Obs.] West.

Fem`i*nal"i*ty (?), n. Feminity.

Fem"i*nate (?), a. [L. feminatus effeminate.] Feminine. [Obs.]

Fem`i*ne"i*ty (?), n. [L. femineus womanly.] Womanliness; femininity. C. Reade.

Fem"i*nine (?), a. [L. femininus, fr. femina woman; prob. akin to L. fetus, or to Gr. qh^sqai to suck, qh^sai to suckle, Skr. dh to suck; cf. AS. fmme woman, maid: cf. F. fÈminin. See Fetus.] 1. Of or pertaining to a woman, or to women; characteristic of a woman; womanish; womanly.

Her letters are remarkably deficient in feminine ease and grace.

Macaulay.

2. Having the qualities of a woman; becoming or appropriate to the female sex; as, in a good sense, modest, graceful, affectionate, confiding; or, in a bad sense, weak, nerveless, timid, pleasure-loving, effeminate.

Her heavenly form Angelic, but more soft and feminine.

Milton.

Ninus being esteemed no man of war at all, but altogether feminine, and subject to ease and delicacy.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Feminine rhyme. (Pros.) See Female rhyme, under Female, a.

Syn. -- See Female, a.

Fem"i*nine, n. 1. A woman. [Obs. or Colloq.]

They guide the feminines toward the palace.

Hakluyt.

2. (Gram.) Any one of those words which are the appellations of females, or which have the terminations usually found in such words; as, actress, songstress, abbess, executrix.

There are but few true feminines in English.

Latham.

Fem"i*nine*ly, adv. In a feminine manner. Byron.

Fem"i*nine*ness, n. The quality of being feminine; womanliness; womanishness.

Fem`i*nin"i*ty (?), n. 1. The quality or nature of the female sex; womanliness.

2. The female form. [Obs.]

O serpent under femininitee.

Chaucer.

Fe*min"i*ty (?), n. Womanliness; femininity. [Obs.] "Trained up in true feminity." Spenser.

Fem`i*ni*za"tion (?), n. The act of feminizing, or the state of being feminized.

Fem"i*nize (?), v. t. [Cf. F. fÈminiser.] To make womanish or effeminate. Dr. H. More.

Fem"i*nye (?), n. [OF. femenie, feminie, the female sex, realm of women.] The people called Amazons. [Obs.] "[The reign of] feminye." Chaucer.

||Femme (? or ?), n. [F.] A woman. See Feme, n.

Femme de chambre (?). [F.] A lady's maid; a chambermaid.

Fem"o*ral (?), a. [L. femur, femoris, thigh: cf. F. fÈmoral.] Pertaining to the femur or thigh; as, the femoral artery. "Femoral habiliments." Sir W. Scott.

||Fe"mur (f"mr), n.; pl. Femora (fm"*r). [L. thigh.] (Anat.) (a) The ||thigh bone. (b) The proximal segment of the hind limb containing the ||thigh bone; the thigh. See Coxa.

Fen (?), n. [AS. fen, fenn, marsh, mud, dirt; akin to D. veen, OFries. fenne, fene, OHG. fenna, G. fenn, Icel. fen, Goth. fani mud.] Low land overflowed, or covered wholly or partially with water, but producing sedge, coarse grasses, or other aquatic plants; boggy land; moor; marsh.

'Mid reedy fens wide spread.

Wordsworth.

Fen is used adjectively with the sense of belonging to, or of the nature of, a fen or fens.

Fen boat, a boat of light draught used in marshes. -- Fen duck (Zoˆl.), a wild duck inhabiting fens; the shoveler. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fen fowl (Zoˆl.), any water fowl that frequent fens. -- Fen goose (Zoˆl.), the graylag goose of Europe. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fen land, swamp land.

Fence (?), n. [Abbrev. from defence.] 1. That which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a protection; a cover; security; shield.

Let us be backed with God and with the seas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable.

Shak.

A fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath.

Addison.

2. An inclosure about a field or other space, or about any object; especially, an inclosing structure of wood, iron, or other material, intended to prevent intrusion from without or straying from within.

Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold.

Milton.

In England a hedge, ditch, or wall, as well as a structure of boards, palings, or rails, is called a fence.

3. (Locks) A projection on the bolt, which passes through the tumbler gates in locking and unlocking.

4. Self-defense by the use of the sword; the art and practice of fencing and sword play; hence, skill in debate and repartee. See Fencing.

Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric, That hath so well been taught her dazzing fence.

Milton.

Of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence.

Macaulay.

5. A receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are received. [Slang] Mayhew.

Fence month (Forest Law), the month in which female deer are fawning, when hunting is prohibited. Bullokar. -- Fence roof, a covering for defense. "They fitted their shields close to one another in manner of a fence roof." Holland. -- Fence time, the breeding time of fish or game, when they should not be killed. -- Rail fence, a fence made of rails, sometimes supported by posts. -- Ring fence, a fence which encircles a large area, or a whole estate, within one inclosure. -- Worm fence, a zigzag fence composed of rails crossing one another at their ends; -- called also snake fence, or Virginia rail fence. -- To be on the fence, to be undecided or uncommitted in respect to two opposing parties or policies. [Colloq.]

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Fence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fenced (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Fencing (?).] 1. To fend off danger from; to give security to; to protect; to guard.

To fence my ear against thy sorceries.

Milton.

2. To inclose with a fence or other protection; to secure by an inclosure.

O thou wall! . . . dive in the earth, And fence not Athens.

Shak.

A sheepcote fenced about with olive trees.

Shak.

To fence the tables (Scot. Church), to make a solemn address to those who present themselves to commune at the Lord's supper, on the feelings appropriate to the service, in order to hinder, so far as possible, those who are unworthy from approaching the table. McCheyne.

Fence (?), v. i. 1. To make a defense; to guard one's self of anything, as against an attack; to give protection or security, as by a fence.

Vice is the more stubborn as well as the more dangerous evil, and therefore, in the first place, to be fenced against.

Locke.

2. To practice the art of attack and defense with the sword or with the foil, esp. with the smallsword, using the point only.

He will fence with his own shadow.

Shak.

3. Hence, to fight or dispute in the manner of fencers, that is, by thrusting, guarding, parrying, etc.

They fence and push, and, pushing, loudly roar; Their dewlaps and their sides are bat&?;ed in gore.

Dryden.

As when a billow, blown against, Falls back, the voice with which I fenced A little ceased, but recommenced.

Tennyson.

Fence"ful (?), a. Affording defense; defensive. [Obs.] Congreve.

Fence"less, a. Without a fence; uninclosed; open; unguarded; defenseless. Milton.

Fen"cer (?), n. One who fences; one who teaches or practices the art of fencing with sword or foil.

As blunt as the fencer's foils.

Shak.

Fen"ci-ble (?), a. Capable of being defended, or of making or affording defense. [Obs.]

No fort so fencible, nor walls so strong.

Spenser.

Fen"ci*ble, n. (Mil.) A soldier enlisted for home service only; -- usually in the pl.

Fen"cing (?), n. 1. The art or practice of attack and defense with the sword, esp. with the smallsword. See Fence, v. i., 2.

2. Disputing or debating in a manner resembling the art of fencers. Shak.

3. The materials used for building fences. [U.S.]

4. The act of building a fence.

5. The aggregate of the fences put up for inclosure or protection; as, the fencing of a farm.

Fen" crick`et (?). (Zoˆl.) The mole cricket. [Prov. Eng.]

Fend (?), n. A fiend. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fend (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fended; p. pr. & vb. n. Fending.] [Abbrev. fr. defend.] To keep off; to prevent from entering or hitting; to ward off; to shut out; -- often with off; as, to fend off blows.

With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.

Dryden.

To fend off a boat or vessel (Naut.), to prevent its running against anything with too much violence.

Fend, v. i. To act on the defensive, or in opposition; to resist; to parry; to shift off.

The dexterous management of terms, and being able to fend . . . with them, passes for a great part of learning.

Locke.

Fen"der (?), n. [From Fend, v. t. & i., cf. Defender.] One who or that which defends or protects by warding off harm; as: (a) A screen to prevent coals or sparks of an open fire from escaping to the floor. (b) Anything serving as a cushion to lessen the shock when a vessel comes in contact with another vessel or a wharf. (c) A screen to protect a carriage from mud thrown off the wheels: also, a splashboard. (d) Anything set up to protect an exposed angle, as of a house, from damage by carriage wheels.

Fend"liche (?), a. Fiendlike. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fen"er*ate (?), v. i. [L. faeneratus, p. p. of faenerari lend on interest, fr. faenus interest.] To put money to usury; to lend on interest. [Obs.] Cockeram.

Fen`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. faeneratio.] The act of fenerating; interest. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

||Fen`es-tel"la (?), n. [L., dim. of fenestra &?; window.] (Arch.) Any ||small windowlike opening or recess, esp. one to show the relics ||within an altar, or the like.

||Fe*nes"tra (?), n.; pl. FenestrÊ (#). [L., a window.] (Anat.) A small ||opening; esp., one of the apertures, closed by membranes, between the ||tympanum and internal ear.

Fe*nes"tral (?), a. [L. fenestra a window.] 1. (Arch.) Pertaining to a window or to windows.

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a fenestra.

Fe*nes"tral, n. (Arch.) A casement or window sash, closed with cloth or paper instead of glass. Weale.

Fe*nes"trate (?), a. [L. fenestratus, p. p. of fenestrare to furnish with openings and windows.] 1. Having numerous openings; irregularly reticulated; as, fenestrate membranes; fenestrate fronds.

2. (Zoˆl.) Having transparent spots, as the wings of certain butterflies.

Fe*nes"tra*ted (?), a. 1. (Arch.) Having windows; characterized by windows.

2. Same as Fenestrate.

Fen`es*tra"tion (?), n. 1. (Arch.) The arrangement and proportioning of windows; -- used by modern writers for the decorating of an architectural composition by means of the window (and door) openings, their ornaments, and proportions.

2. (Anat.) The state or condition of being fenestrated.

Fe*nes"trule (?), n. [L. fenestrula a little window, dim. of fenestra a window.] (Zoˆl.) One of the openings in a fenestrated structure.

Fen"gite (?), n. (Min.) A kind of marble or alabaster, sometimes used for windows on account of its transparency.

Fe"ni*an (?), n. [From the Finians or Fenii, the old militia of Ireland, who were so called from Fin or Finn, Fionn, or Fingal, a popular hero of Irish traditional history.] A member of a secret organization, consisting mainly of Irishmen, having for its aim the overthrow of English rule in Ireland.

Fe"ni*an (?), a. Pertaining to Fenians or to Fenianism.

Fe"ni*an*ism (?), n. The principles, purposes, and methods of the Fenians.

Fenks (fks), n. The refuse whale blubber, used as a manure, and in the manufacture of Prussian blue. Ure.

Fen"nec (fn"nk), n. [Ar. fanek.] (Zoˆl.) A small, African, foxlike animal (Vulpes zerda) of a pale fawn color, remarkable for the large size of its ears.

Fen"nel (fn"nl), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus FÊniculum (F. vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds.

Smell of sweetest fennel.

Milton.

A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the tender sex.

S. G. Goodrich.

Azorean, or Sweet, fennel, (FÊniculum dulce). It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel, and is used as a pot herb. -- Dog's fennel (Anthemis Cotula), a foul- smelling European weed; -- called also mayweed. -- Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb (Nigella) of the Buttercup family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the fennel. N. Damascena is common in gardens. N. sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment, etc., in India. These seeds are the "fitches" mentioned in Isaiah (xxviii. 25). -- Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It is stimulant and carminative. -- Giant fennel (Ferula communis), has stems full of pith, which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by Prometheus. -- Hog's fennel, a European plant (Peucedanum officinale) looking something like fennel.

Fen"nish (?), a. Abounding in fens; fenny.

Fen"ny (?), a. [AS. fennig.] Pertaining to, or inhabiting, a fen; abounding in fens; swampy; boggy. "Fenny snake." Shak.

Fen"owed (?), a. [AS. fynig musty, fynegean to become musty or filthy: cf. fennig fenny, muddy, dirty, fr. fen fen. Cf. Finew.] Corrupted; decayed; moldy. See Vinnewed. [Obs.] Dr. Favour.

Fen"si-ble (?), a. Fencible. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fen"-sucked` (?), a. Sucked out of marches. "Fen-sucked fogs." Shak.

Fen"u*greek (? or ?), n. [L. faenum Graecum, lit., Greek hay: cf. F. fenugrec. Cf. Fennel.] (Bot.) A plant (trigonella Fúnum GrÊcum) cultivated for its strong-smelling seeds, which are "now only used for giving false importance to horse medicine and damaged hay." J. Smith (Pop. Names of Plants, 1881).

Feod (?), n. A feud. See 2d Feud. Blackstone.

Feod"al (?), a. Feudal. See Feudal.

Feo*dal"i*ty (?), n. Feudal tenure; the feudal system. See Feudality. Burke.

Feod"a*ry (?), n. 1. An accomplice.

Art thou a feodary for this act?

Shak.

2. (Eng. Law) An ancient officer of the court of wards. Burrill.

Feod"a*to*ry (?), n. See Feudatory.

Feoff (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feoffed (#); p. pr. & vb. n.. Feoffing.] [OE. feffen, OF. feffer, fieffer, F. fieffer, fr. fief fief; cf. LL. feoffare, fefare. See Fief.] (Law) To invest with a fee or feud; to give or grant a corporeal hereditament to; to enfeoff.

Feoff, n. (Law) A fief. See Fief.

Feof*fee" (?; 277), n. [OF. feoffÈ.] (Law) The person to whom a feoffment is made; the person enfeoffed.

Feoff"ment (?), n. [OF. feoffement, fieffement; cf. LL. feoffamentum.] (Law) (a) The grant of a feud or fee. (b) (Eng. Law) A gift or conveyance in fee of land or other corporeal hereditaments, accompanied by actual delivery of possession. Burrill.

(c) The instrument or deed by which corporeal hereditaments are conveyed. [Obs. in the U.S., Rare in Eng.]

{ Feo"for (?), Feof"fer (?) }, n. [OF. feoour.] (Law) One who enfeoffs or grants a fee.

Fer (?), a. & adv. Far. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fe*ra"cious (?), a. [L. ferax, -acis, fr. ferre to bear.] Fruitful; producing abundantly. [R.] Thomson.

Fe*rac"i*ty (?), n. [L. feracitas.] The state of being feracious or fruitful. [Obs.] Beattie.

||Fe"rÊ (?), n. pl. [L., wild animals, fem. pl. of ferus wild.] (Zoˆl.) ||A group of mammals which formerly included the Carnivora, ||Insectivora, Marsupialia, and lemurs, but is now often restricted to ||the Carnivora.

||Fe"rÊ na*tu"rÊ (?). [L.] Of a wild nature; -- applied to animals, as ||foxes, wild ducks, etc., in which no one can claim property.

Fe"ral (?), a. [L. ferus. See Fierce.] (Bot. & Zoˆl.) Wild; untamed; ferine; not domesticated; -- said of beasts, birds, and plants.

Fe"ral, a. [L. feralis, belonging to the dead.] Funereal; deadly; fatal; dangerous. [R.] "Feral accidents." Burton.

Ferde (?), obs. imp. of Fare. Chaucer.

||Fer`-de-lance" (?), n. [F., the iron of a lance, lance head.] (Zoˆl.) ||A large, venomous serpent (Trigonocephalus lanceolatus) of Brazil and ||the West Indies. It is allied to the rattlesnake, but has no rattle.

Fer"ding (?), n. [See Farthing.] A measure of land mentioned in Domesday Book. It is supposed to have consisted of a few acres only. [Obs.]

Ferd"ness (?), n. [OE. ferd fear. See Fear.] Fearfulness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fere (?), n. [OE. fere companion, AS. gefra, from fran to go, travel, faran to travel. &radic;78. See Fare.] A mate or companion; -- often used of a wife. [Obs.] [Written also fear and feere.] Chaucer.

And Cambel took Cambrina to his fere.

Spenser.

In fere, together; in company. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fere, a. [Cf. L. ferus wild.] Fierce. [Obs.]

Fere, n. [See Fire.] Fire. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fere, n. [See Fear.] Fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fere, v. t. & i. To fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fer`e*to*ry (?), n. [L. feretrum bier, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to bear, akin to L. ferre, E. bear to support.] A portable bier or shrine, variously adorned, used for containing relics of saints. Mollett.

Fer"forth` (?), adv. Far forth. [Obs.]

As ferforth as, as far as. -- So ferforth, to such a degree.

Fer"forth`ly, adv. Ferforth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fer"gu*son*ite (?), n. (Min.) A mineral of a brownish black color, essentially a tantalo- niobate of yttrium, erbium, and cerium; -- so called after Robert Ferguson.

||Fe"ri*a (?), n.; pl. FeriÊ (&?;). (Eccl.) A week day, esp. a day ||which is neither a festival nor a fast. Shipley.

Fe"ri*al (?), n. Same as Feria.

Fe"ri*al, a. [LL. ferialis, fr. L. ferie holidays: cf. F. fÈrial. See 5th Fair.] 1. Of or pertaining to holidays. [Obs.] J. Gregory.

2. Belonging to any week day, esp. to a day that is neither a festival nor a fast.

Fe`ri*a"tion (?), n. [L. feriari to keep holiday, fr. ferie holidays.] The act of keeping holiday; cessation from work. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Fe"rie (?), n. [OF. ferie, fr. L. ferie holidays. See 5th Fair.] A holiday. [Obs.] Bullokar.

Fe"ri*er (?), a., compar. of Fere, fierce. [Obs.]

Rhenus ferier than the cataract.

Marston.

Fe"rine (?), a. [L. ferinus, fr. ferus wild. See Fierce.] Wild; untamed; savage; as, lions, tigers, wolves, and bears are ferine beasts. Sir M. Hale. -- n. A wild beast; a beast of prey. -- Fe"rine*ly, adv. - - Fe"rine*ness, n.

||Fer*in"gee (?), n. [Per. Farang, or Ar. Firanj, properly, a Frank.] ||The name given to Europeans by the Hindos. [Written also Feringhee.]

Fer"i*ty (?), n. [L. feritas, from ferus wild.] Wildness; savageness; fierceness. [Obs.] Woodward.

Fer"ly (?), a. [AS. f&?;rlic sudden, unexpected. See Fear, n.] Singular; wonderful; extraordinary. [Obs.] -- n. A wonder; a marvel. [Obs.]

Who hearkened ever such a ferly thing.

Chaucer.

{ Ferm, Ferme (?), n. }[See Farm.] Rent for a farm; a farm; also, an abode; a place of residence; as, he let his land to ferm. [Obs.]

Out of her fleshy ferme fled to the place of pain.

Spenser.

Fer"ma*cy (?), n. [OE. See Pharmacy.] Medicine; pharmacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fer"ment (?), n. [L. fermentum ferment (in senses 1 & 2), perh. for fervimentum, fr. fervere to be boiling hot, boil, ferment: cf. F. ferment. Cf. 1st Barm, Fervent.] 1. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer.

Ferments are of two kinds: (a) Formed or organized ferments. (b) Unorganized or structureless ferments. The latter are also called soluble or chemical ferments, and enzymes. Ferments of the first class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and development; as, the acetic ferment, the butyric ferment, etc. See Fermentation. Ferments of the second class, on the other hand, are chemical substances, as a rule soluble in glycerin and precipitated by alcohol. In action they are catalytic and, mainly, hydrolytic. Good examples are pepsin of the dastric juice, ptyalin of the salvia, and disease of malt.

2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation.

Subdue and cool the ferment of desire.

Rogers.

the nation is in a ferment.

Walpole.

3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation. [R.]

Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran.

Thomson.

ferment oils, volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchenists. Ure.

Fer*ment" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fermented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fermenting.] [L. fermentare, fermentatum: cf. F. fermenter. See Ferment, n.] To cause ferment of fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat.

Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood.

Pope.

Fer*ment", v. i. 1. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent particles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce.

2. To be agitated or excited by violent emotions.

But finding no redress, ferment and rage.

Milton.

The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect.

De Quincey.

Fer*ment`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. Capability of fermentation.

Fer*ment"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. fermentable.] Capable of fermentation; as, cider and other vegetable liquors are fermentable.

Fer*ment"al (?), a. Fermentative. [Obs.]

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Fer`men*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. fermentation.] 1. The process of undergoing an effervescent change, as by the action of yeast; in a wider sense (Physiol. Chem.), the transformation of an organic substance into new compounds by the action of a ferment, either formed or unorganized. It differs in kind according to the nature of the ferment which causes it.

2. A state of agitation or excitement, as of the intellect or the feelings.

It puts the soul to fermentation and activity.

Jer. Taylor.

A univesal fermentation of human thought and faith.

C. Kingsley.

Acetous, or Acetic, fermentation, a form of oxidation in which alcohol is converted into vinegar or acetic acid by the agency of a specific fungus or ferment (Mycoderma aceti). The process involves two distinct reactions, in which the oxygen of the air is essential. An intermediate product, aldehyde, is formed in the first process.