whet

 
Pronunciation: /wɛt/

verb (whets, whetting, whetted)

[with object]
  • 1sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon): her husband is whetting his knife
  • 2excite or stimulate (someone’s desire, interest, or appetite): here’s an extract to whet your appetite

noun

archaic
  • a thing that stimulates appetite or desire: he swallowed his two dozen oysters as a whet

Derivatives

whetter

noun

Origin:

Old English hwettan, of Germanic origin; related to German wetzen, based on an adjective meaning 'sharp'

Do not confuse whet with wet. Whet means 'excite someone’s interest or appetite' ( this recipe should whet your appetite), whereas wet means 'covered or saturated with liquid' ( I slipped on the wet rock) or 'make someone or something wet' ( he wet his lips, then spoke).