whet
(verb) sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone
whet, quicken
(verb) make keen or more acute; “whet my appetite”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
whet (third-person singular simple present whets, present participle whetting, simple past and past participle whet or whetted)
(transitive) To hone or rub on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening – see whetstone.
(transitive) To stimulate or make more keen.
(transitive, obsolete) To preen.
whet (plural whets)
The act of whetting something.
That which whets or sharpens; especially, an appetizer.
• thew
Source: Wiktionary
Whet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whetted; p. pr. & vb. n. Whetting.] Etym: [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.]
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. 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
30 March 2025
(adjective) of or pertaining to or in keeping with the Christian gospel especially as in the first 4 books of the New Testament
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
