whet

whet
whet (v.) O.E. hwettan, from P.Gmc. *khwatjanan (Cf. O.N. hvetja "to sharpen, encourage," M.L.G., M.Du. wetten, O.H.G. wezzan, Ger. wetzen "to sharpen," Goth. ga-hvatjan "to sharpen, incite"), from an adjective represented by O.E. hwæt "brave, bold," O.S. hwat "sharp," from P.Gmc. *khwataz, from PIE root *qwed- "sharp" (Cf. Skt. codati "incites," lit. "sharpens"). Figurative sense was in Old English.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whet — [ wet, hwet ] verb transitive if you whet a blade, you make it sharper: SHARPEN whet your appetite (for something) to increase the feeling that you want to have or do a particular thing: a TV program that will whet people s appetite for travel …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Whet — Whet, n. [1913 Webster] 1. The act of whetting. [1913 Webster] 2. That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer. Sips, drams, and whets. Spectator. [1913 Webster] {Whet slate} (Min.), a variety of slate used for sharpening cutting instruments; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whet — whet; whet·ten; whet·ter; …   English syllables

  • whet — [hwet, wet] vt. whetted, whetting [ME whetten < OE hwettan, to make keen < hwæt, sharp, keen, bold < IE base * kwed , to pierce, sharpen, whet > prob. L (tri)quetrus, (three )cornered] 1. to sharpen by rubbing or grinding (the edge of …   English World dictionary

  • whet — [wet] v past tense and past participle whetted present participle whetting [T] [: Old English; Origin: hwettan] 1.) whet sb s appetite (for sth) if an experience whets your appetite for something, it increases your desire for it ▪ The view from… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • whet — [v1] make sharp edge, file, finish, grind, hone, sharpen, strop; concepts 137,250 Ant. blunt, dull whet [v2] arouse, excite animate, awaken, challenge, enhance, incite, increase, kindle, pique, provoke, quicken, rally, rouse, stimulate, stir,… …   New thesaurus

  • whet on — ● whet …   Useful english dictionary

  • whet — index stimulate, stimulus Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • whet — ► VERB (whetted, whetting) 1) sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon). 2) excite or stimulate (someone s desire, interest, or appetite). ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

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