/ˈʍɛt/ (General-American) without the wine–whine merger
[ˈʍɛ(ʔ)t̚] (General-American)
[ˈwɛ(ʔ)t̚] (Received-Pronunciation)
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”)
Meanings
An act of sharpening something by rubbing on an object, especially a whetstone.
(broadly, dialectal, qualifier:archaic except UK) An occasion to do something; a go, a turn.
(broadly, dialectal, qualifier:archaic except UK) A period of time between two sharpenings of a scythe.
(figuratively) 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.
sips, drams, and whets 1714 July 29 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “SUNDAY, July 19, 1714”, in The Spectator, number 569; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume VI, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
To make a nice Whet before Dinner […] 1769, Elizabeth Raffald, The Experienced English Housekeeper:
(figuratively) A thing which makes one's desire, interest, etc., more keen; an incitement, an inducement.
A really good game, to my mind, must have an element, however slight, of physical danger to the player. This is the great whet to skilled performance. 1902, Robert Marshall Grade, The Haunted Major:
fi teroitus (act of sharpening something by rubbing on an object) · fi kahden teroituksen väli (period of time between two sharpenings of a scythe) · fi hionta (act of sharpening something by rubbing on an object)
/ˈʍɛt/ (General-American) without the wine–whine merger
[ˈʍɛ(ʔ)t̚] (General-American)
[ˈwɛ(ʔ)t̚] (Received-Pronunciation)
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”)
Meanings
(archaic, transitive) To sharpen (something, such as a knife or sword) by rubbing on an object, especially a whetstone; to hone.
Here roams the wolf, the eagle whets his beak. 1812, Lord Byron, “Canto II”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. A Romaunt, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […]; William Blackwood, Edinburgh; and John Cumming, Dublin; by Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, stanza XLII:
And the Mower whets his ſithe, a. 1645, John Milton, “L’Allegro”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 33:
Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
(transitive) 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.
(figuratively, transitive) To make more keen or to stimulate (someone's appetite, interest, etc.); to hone, to sharpen.
Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, / I have not slept. 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
In the end, porn doesn’t whet men’s appetites—it turns them off the real thing. 2003 October 9, Naomi Wolf, “The Porn Myth”, in New York Magazine:
My faith in vegetarianism grew on me from day to day. Salt's book whetted my appetite for dietetic studies. I went in for all books available on vegetarianism and read them. 1925-29, Mahadev Desai (translator), M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Part I, chapter xv
to whet one's appetite or one's courage
Oh, so now you wanna blow up a police station? [...] Nursing home full of old folks just whet your appetite — now you wanna kill a bunch of cops. 2012, Vince Gilligan, “Live Free or Die”, in Breaking Bad, season 5, episode 1 (television production), spoken by Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks):
(figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To encourage (someone) to do something; to incite, to urge.
(figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To inculcate or teach (habits, information, etc.).
(figuratively, obsolete, rare, transitive) Of a bird: to preen (its feathers).
(figuratively, intransitive) To make more keen; to stimulate.
(figuratively, intransitive) To prepare for an attack.
(figuratively, intransitive, obsolete) To consume drink or food as an appetizer.
sk naostriť ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · wyi kirk-kirk-konak ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · es estimular ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · scn stuzzinijari ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · mk точи ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · mrw bagid ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · mk остри ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · hu köszörül ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · sv fila ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ar حَدَّدَ ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · sv slipa ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · it stuzzicare ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · mi whakapuku ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · ru разжигать ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · cs nabrousit ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · cs naostřit ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · mi oroi ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · pt amolar ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · cs podnítit ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · cs povzbuzovat ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · fi hioa ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ro ascuți ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · pt afiar ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ga géaraigh ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · pl ostrzyć ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · scn mmulari ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ru обостри́ть ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · ru пра́вить ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ru поточи́ть ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ar شَحَذَ ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · it affilare ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · scn allisciari ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · pt aguçar ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · pt estimular ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · bg възбуждам ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · cs povzbudit ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · fi teroittaa ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ta இடங்கம் ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ru обостря́ть ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · nl wetten ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · ru возбужда́ть ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · cs brousit ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · lb schäerfen ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · fi teroittaa ((intransitive) to prepare for an attack) · nl scherpen ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · nl wetten ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ro ațâța ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · la acuō ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · cs nabudit ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · cmn 磨 ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · fr attiser ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · scn scummàttiri ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · cs podněcovat ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · lb wetzen ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · izh luisata ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · sk ostriť ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · es afilar ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ca esmolar ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · lb schläifen ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ru разже́чь ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · be тачы́ць ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · it stimolare ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · fr aiguiser ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ga faobhraigh ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · th ลับ ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · de wetzen ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · nl slijpen ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ru возбуди́ть ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · cs ostřit ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ru точи́ть ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · uk точи́ти ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · bg остря ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · lo ລັບ ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · bg точа ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · bg изострям ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · ga géaraigh ((transitive) to make more keen or to stimulate (someone’s appetite, interest, etc.); (intransitive) to make more keen — see also hone, sharpen, stimulate) · nl scherpen ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · sv skärpa ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · sk nabrúsiť ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · ii ꍚ ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · pl naostrzyć ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone) · sk brúsiť ((transitive) to sharpen (something) by rubbing on an object; of an animal: to sharpen (its horns, teeth, tusks, etc.) by rubbing — see also hone)