Whet word meaning and definition

[verb] sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone
[verb] make keen or more acute; "whet my appetite"

\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.
\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}.

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