whet Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make keen or more acute
    quicken.
    • whet my appetite
  2. verb sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone

WordNet

Whet transitive verb
Etymology
AS. hwettan; akin to D. wetten, G. wetzen, OHG. wezzen, Icel. hvetja, Sw. vättja, and AS. hwæt 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.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Whetted; present participle & verbal noun Whetting
Definitions
  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 Cæsar, I have not slept. Shak.
    Shak.
Whet noun
Definitions
  1. The act of whetting.
  2. That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer. "Sips, drams, and whets." Spectator.

Webster 1913