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whettingmore about whetting

whetting

 

  1  definition  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.




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