Fomes, huius fomitis, pen. cor. m. ge. Virg.Chips, or any matter wherewith fire is kindied and kept burning. Fomes, per translationem Gell.Whatsoeuer inflameth, exciterh, or stirreth vehemently to do.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
fōmes, ĭtis, m. [foveo], kindling-wood, touch-wood, tinder.I.Lit.: silici scintillam excudit Achates ... rapuitque in fomite flammam, Verg. A. 1, 176; Luc. 8, 776; Plin. 16, 40, 77, 208.—B.Trop. (postclass.): fomes et incitabulum ingenii virtutisque, Gell. 15, 2, 3: peccati, Prud. Apoth. 942: invidiae, Vulg. Gen. 37, 8.—II.Transf.: fomites sunt assulae ex arboribus, dum caeduntur, excussae: dictae, quod in eo opere occupati cibis potuque confoventur, etc., Paul. ex Fest. p. 85 Müll.; cf.: Fomes pele/khma, Gloss. Labb.