whet
Meanings
- To sharpen (something, such as a knife or sword) by rubbing on an object, especially a whetstone; to hone.
- Of an animal such as a boar: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing on a stone, etc., in preparation for an attack.
- To make more keen or to stimulate (someone's appetite, interest, etc.); to hone, to sharpen.
- To encourage (someone) to do something; to incite, to urge.
- To inculcate or teach (habits, information, etc.).
- Of a bird: to preen (its feathers).
- To make more keen; to stimulate.
- To prepare for an attack.
- To consume drink or food as an appetizer.
- An act of sharpening something by rubbing on an object, especially a whetstone.
- An occasion to do something; a go, a turn.
- A period of time between two sharpenings of a scythe.
- An item of drink or food consumed as an appetizer or to ward off hunger until a meal; specifically, a small amount of liquor drunk as an appetizer; a dram, a nip.
- A thing which makes one's desire, interest, etc., more keen; an incitement, an inducement.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English whetten (“to make the edge of (a sword, tool, etc.) sharp; to grunt, snort; to scrape the ground with (one’s feet); to make a chattering or grinding sound; (figurative) of a person: to prepare for battle; to make (one’s wit) alert or keen; to strengthen (one’s heart or will); to incite, provoke”), from Old English hwettan (“to sharpen, whet; (figurative) to encourage, incite”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwattjan (“to sharpen, whet”), from Proto-Germanic *hwatjaną (“to sharpen, whet; (figurative) to incite, instigate”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₁d- (“sharp”). Verb sense 1.3.3 (“to inculcate or teach (habits, information, etc.)”) is from Deuteronomy 6:6–7 in the Bible (New International Version): “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.” The word translated as impress is Hebrew שָׁנַן (shanán, “to be sharp; to sharpen, whet”). The noun is derived from the verb. cognates * Dialectal Danish hvæde (“to whet”) * Dutch wetten (“to whet, sharpen”) * German wetzen (“to whet, sharpen”) * Icelandic hvetja (“to whet, encourage, catalyze”)