4 ms·
Foment? To instigate or stir up
by asplake 4y ago
Foment? To instigate or stir up
- maxbond 4y agoIt's a pun, Adams is noted as a brewer ETA: "Adams has often been described as a brewer, but the extant evidence suggests that he worked as a maltster and not a brewer." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Adams https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Adams
- favorited 4y agoIt's a pun. His father's business was grain malting.
- ghaff 4y agoMy initial reaction. But then I saw it's The New Yorker. They're being clever as they are wont to be.
- JasonFruit 4y agoI get sick of that kind of clever that consists only of playing with language. I know The New Yorker is known for this sort of thing, but I expect more of them; they are, when at their best, both clever and thoughtful. This particular piece is insufferable.
- arcticbull 4y agoAs I learned on a different post on HN, you can use either ferment or foment in this context. Definitions by Google. > Ferment: 2. incite or stir up (trouble or disorder). > Foment: 1. instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action). I still think ferment sounds totally wrong too.
- sgammon 4y agothank you hckrnews i came here with this question and knew in my heart it had already been answered