Hypertext Webster Gateway: "whetting"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Whet \Whet\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Whetted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Whetting}.] [AS. hwettan; akin to D. wetten, G. wetzen, OHG.
wezzen, Icel. hvetja, Sw. v["a]ttja, and AS. hw[ae]t
vigorous, brave, OS. hwat, OHG. waz, was, sharp, Icel. hvatr,
bold, active, Sw. hvass sharp, Dan. hvas, Goth. hwassaba
sharply, and probably to Skr. cud to impel, urge on.]
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 C[ae]sar, I
have not slept. --Shak.

{To whet on}, {To whet forward}, to urge on or forward; to
instigate. --Shak.

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