whet /ˈhwɛt, ˈwɛt/
磨,磨利之物,開胃物(vt.)磨,磨快,刺激,促進
Whet v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whetted; p. pr. & vb. n. Whetting.]
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 Caesar,
I have not slept. --Shak.
To whet on, To whet forward, to urge on or forward; to instigate.
Whet, n.
1. The act of whetting.
2. That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer. “Sips, drams, and whets.”
Whet slate Min., a variety of slate used for sharpening cutting instruments; novaculite; -- called also whetstone slate, and oilstone.
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whet
v 1: make keen or more acute; "whet my appetite" [syn: quicken]
2: sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone
[also: whetting, whetted]