3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Whet \Whet\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Whetted}; p. pr & vb n.
{Whetting}.] [AS. hwettan akin to D. wetten, G. wetzen, OHG.
wezzen, Icel. hvetja Sw v["a]ttja, and AS hw[ae]t
vigorous, brave, OS hwat, OHG. waz, was sharp, Icel. hvatr
bold, active, Sw hvass sharp, Dan. hvas, Goth. hwassaba
sharply, and probably to Skr. cud to impel, urge on.]
1. To rub or on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for
the purpose of sharpening; to sharpen by attrition; as to
whet a knife.
The mower whets his scythe. --Milton.
Here roams the wolf, the eagle whets his beak.
--Byron.
2. To make sharp, keen, or eager; to excite; to stimulate;
as to whet the appetite or the courage.
Since Cassius first did whet me against C[ae]sar, I
have not slept. --Shak.
{To whet on}, {To whet forward}, to urge on or forward; to
instigate. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Whet \Whet\, n.
1. The act of whetting.
2. That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer. ``Sips,
drams, and whets.'' --Spectator.
{Whet slate} (Min.), a variety of slate used for sharpening
cutting instruments; novaculite; -- called also {whetstone
slate}, and {oilstone}.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
whet
v 1: make keen or more acute; "whet my appetite" [syn: {quicken}]
2: sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone
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