Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WHET, v.t. [pret. and pp. whetted or whet. Sax. hwettan; Sw. hvässa; Dan. hvas, sharp; hvedser, to whet; D. wetten; G. wetzen.]

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. – Shak. To whet on, or whet forward, to urge on; to instigate. – Shak. [Not used nor proper.]