WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Whet
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [AS. hwettan; akin to D. wetten, G. wetzen, OHG. wezzen, Icel. hvetja, Sw. v?ttja, and AS. hw?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 imp
Definition : 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?sar, I have not slept. Shak. To whet on, To whet forward, to urge on or forward; to instigate. Shak.

t. [imp. & p. p. Whetted; p. pr. & vb. n. Whetting.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Whet
Part of Speech : n.
Definition : 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913