fermento, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [fermentum], to cause to rise or ferment; in pass., to rise, ferment.
I Lit.: panis hordeaceus ervi aut cicerculae farina fermentabatur, Plin. 18, 11, 26, § 103; cf.: fermentato pane ali, with fermented , leavened , or light bread , id. ib.: fermentatus panis, Cels. 2, 25 and 29: ficus sinitur fermentari, Col. 12, 17, 1; Vulg. Matt. 13, 33.—
B Transf., to cause to swell or rise up , to break up , loosen : terram, Varr. R. R. 1, 38, 1; Col. 2, 14, 1; 11, 3, 13.—*
II Trop., to sour , spoil , Paul. Nol. Carm. 10, 263.
IV —Hence, fermentātus , a, um, P. a.
A Lit. (acc. to I. B.), loose , soft : si deprimatur scobis in regesto, quod est fermentatum plus dipondio semisse, Col. 4, 1, 3: (optimi canes) debent esse pedibus magnis ... solo fermentato ac molli, Varr. R. R. 2, 9, 4.—*
B Trop. (acc. to II.), corrupted , spoiled : mores, Prud. Apoth. 354.