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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To whet forward

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.