English Meaning & Definitions
To sharpen the blade of a tool or weapon, or to stimulate or excite an appetite, desire, or interest.
- “He used a fine-grained stone to whet his hunting knife.”
- “The delicious aroma of the baking bread served only to whet our appetites before dinner.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “whet”.
Derived from the Old English 'hwettan', meaning 'to sharpen', which stems from the Proto-Germanic '*hwatjanan'. It is cognate with the Old High German 'hwazz' (sharp). The word is historically linked to the act of rubbing a blade against a stone to improve its cutting edge.
Think of a 'wet' stone used to sharpen a blade; you 'whet' the knife on the 'wet' stone.
Frequently Asked Questions About “whet”
1. What is the meaning of “whet” in English?
In English, whet (verb) is defined as: “To sharpen the blade of a tool or weapon, or to stimulate or excite an appetite, desire, or interest.”.
2. How do you use “whet” in a sentence?
“He used a fine-grained stone to whet his hunting knife.”
3. What are English synonyms of “whet”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “whet”?
Derived from the Old English 'hwettan', meaning 'to sharpen', which stems from the Proto-Germanic '*hwatjanan'. It is cognate with the Old High German 'hwazz' (sharp). The word is historically linked to the act of rubbing a blade against a stone to improve its cutting edge.
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