whet´ter

whet´ter
whet «hweht», verb, whet|ted, whet|ting, noun.
–v.t.
1. to sharpen by rubbing; hone: »

to whet a knife.

2. Figurative. to make keen or eager; stimulate: »

The smell of the food whetted my appetite. An exciting story whets your interest.

SYNONYM(S): kindle, quicken.
–n.
1. the act of whetting; sharpening.
2. something that whets.
3. = appetizer. (Cf.appetizer)
4. Dialect. a) the interval between two sharpenings, as of a scythe, during which the tool is used for cutting. b) any occasion of work or action; turn.
[Old English hwettan]
whet´ter, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • whet — whet; whet·ten; whet·ter; …   English syllables

  • whet — [[t](h)wɛt, wɛt[/t]] v. whet•ted, whet•ting, n. 1) to sharpen (a knife, tool, etc.) by grinding or friction 2) to make keen or eager; stimulate: to whet the appetite; to whet the curiosity[/ex] 3) the act of whetting 4) something that whets;… …   From formal English to slang

  • whetter — whet·ter …   English syllables

  • Whetter — Whet ter, n. [1913 Webster] 1. One who, or that which, whets, sharpens, or stimulates. [1913 Webster] 2. A tippler; one who drinks whets. [Obs.] Steele. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ten — af·ten; aglis·ten; an·ten·nal; an·ten·nar·ia; an·ten·na·ri·i·dae; an·ten·na·ry; an·ten·na·ta; an·ten·nate; an·ten·ni·fer; an·ten·ni·form; an·ten·nu·la; an·ten·nu·lar; an·ten·nule; ap·pe·ten·cy; ar·ten·kreis; as·tro·pec·ten; at·ten·si·ty;… …   English syllables

  • interest — in·ter·est / in trəst; in tə rəst, ˌrest/ n [probably alteration of earlier interesse, from Anglo French, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, to be between, make a difference, concern, from inter between, among + esse to be] 1: a right, title, claim …   Law dictionary

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