WHET, verb transitive preterit tense and participle passive whetted or whet [G.] 1. To rub for the purpose of sharpening, as an edge tool; to sharpen by attrition; as, to whet a sythe or an ax. 2. To provoke; to excite; to stimulate; as, to whet the appetite. 3. To provoke; to make angry or acrimonious. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cesar, I have not slept. To whet on or whet forward, to urge on; to instigate. [Not used nor proper.] WHET, noun 1. The act of sharpening by friction. 2. Something that provokes or stimulates the appetite; as sips, drams and whets.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI