Middle English Dictionary Entry
whetten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | whetten v. Also whet(te, wehette, whetine, whete, wheth, wet(t)e, qwete; sg.3 whetteth, etc. & (N or NWM) quettis, quettus; p. whetted, whet(te, wette, (early SWM) whætte; pl. whettid, wette, (early SW) ȝwetten; ppl. whetted, i)whet(te, whittid, iwet(te, (early SWM) iwhæt & whēt. |
| Etymology | OE hwettan, hwetan, hwætan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To make an edge or point sharp [quot. a1398, 1st]; put a sharp edge on (a sword, knife, etc.) with a whetstone, sharpen, hone; also fig. and in fig. context; also, put a sharp point on (a spear, dart, etc.); ~ oute (up); ppl. whettinge, ?in the process of being sharpened.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7094 : Ænne wisne mon…nom þas hude & a bord leide and whætte his sæxes alse he schæren wolde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15263 : He igrap a nail-sax selliche kene and wel iwhæt [Otho: i-wet].
- c1300 SLeg.Geo.(1) (LdMisc 108)84 : Huy wolden is heued of smite; heore wepne huy drowen forth and ȝwetten [Corp-C: wette] hem kene forto bite.
- a1325 SLeg.Juliana (Corp-C 145)144 : Þat weol hi turnde al aboute, þe maide þerbi hi sette, Dupe wode in hure naked fleiss þe rasors kene iwette.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.27.17 : Iren with yren is whettid out, & a man whetteþ out þe face of his frend.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.9 : Men…takeþ þe lasse hede…and, as enemyes, whette her tunges and bende hire browes.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)838/13 : Ben dyuers manere of whestons…and some neden oyle for to whette.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)849/33 : Iren is ywhette wiþ iren.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)631 : Twey laddres ben sette þe cros behynde; Twey enmyes on hem smartly gun glymbe, With hamers and nayles sharply whet.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2537 : The bodyes hom they fette Of the knyghtes…Aforn yslawe with the blody swerde Of Tydeus ful sharpe whet [vr. whittid] and grounde.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1760 : Ofte tyme, I fynde that they mette With blody strokes…Assayinge how hire speres weren whette.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)524 : Whettyn [KC: or make sharpe] a knyfe or oþer tool: Acuo.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)212 : So thirleth with the poynt of remembraunce The swerd of sorowe, ywhet with fals plesaunce, Myn herte…That turned is in quakyng al my daunce.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.3 : It nedeþ noght at all To whette [vrr. wete, wette] now þe dartes of cupide…So þat we may oure foule lustes wynne.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.655 : Of the peple, and for her ignoraunce; With his offerying make Recompence, Or that the swerde be whette of vengeaunce.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)4.287 : This name is Ioye of soroughfull in distresse…For to escape the cruell violence Of nedys swerde, whetted [vr. whettyng] with Indygence.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2186 : Let not thin oost diuide; Whette vp thin ege…Fight in a raunge aforn with multitude Ayenst a fewe.
- (1463) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)27 : Men taken them there sheres…to grynde and thanne they been evill grounde and some tyme in stede of gryndyng but whette, by the which the comon people been gretely disceyved.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)543 : Whetyne a knyf: acuo.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)74 : Ther swerd was wheet & ther ffyres lyght.
2.
(a) Of an animal: to rub (its tusks, teeth, etc.) against something to sharpen them, usu. prior to an attack; also fig. of a person [quot. c1460];
(b) to prepare for battle;
(c) to snort or grunt; ~ teth, ?gnash one’s teeth; ?snarl;
(d) to scrape the ground with (one’s feet);
(e) ~ gomes, ?to beat one’s gums, i.e., talk ineffectively.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)34/897 : Þe bor…wette [7S(2): whet] his tossches…Þe tussches in þe tre he smit.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1223/16 : Wolues…eteþ origanum and chewen it whanne þey gon oute of here denne to whette and scharpe here teeþ þerwiþ.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6597 : Þe cokedrylle…is strong…Jn her mouþ ben teeþ trebble sshet None bores better ywhett.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)74/32 : Þis Boor…shal whet [vr. whete] his teiþ vppon þe ȝates of Parys and vppon iiij landes; Spayne shal tremble for drede of him.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5141 : Riȝt so firde he [Hector] al þat ilke day, Or liche a bore þat his tusshes whette.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)383 : Þe bare…whette [vr. whetted] his tuskis…And till hym droughe one syde.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1455 : Yeur wyff woll sikirliche Eche day for angir hir tuskis whet.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9)57 : Quen he quettus his tusshes, Thenne he betus on þe busshes.
b
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)175/318 : I mon whett lyke a bore.
c
- c1400 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Hrl 490)273 : Boor whettys [vrr. boor grountes, boor yelleth; glossing AF (Cmb): cengler releie].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)524 : Whette [Win: Wheth] tethe, as borys: Quirrito, frendeo.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)178/15 : Þer was so many fendis in þer quere þat…þe ta side falid in þe psalm, And when þe toder syde laburd to gar þaim say right agayn, þai whettid þer tethe agayns þaim.
d
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)34/897 : Þe bor…wette…his fet; Þe erþe wiȝ his snowte he bet.
e
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1729 : If thi foo the yatis ha forsette…Let hem revile and gnaste & gomys whette.
3.
Of the teeth: to chatter or grind; of a noise: make a grinding sound.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2203 : Þene herde he…a wonder breme noyse…Hit clatered…As one vpon a gryndelston hade grounden a syþe. What! hit wharred & whette as water at a mulile.
- a1475 Heart & Eye(3) (Lngl 258)196 : The erthe as colde as marble semed me Whiche made my tethe al in myn hede to whette.
4.
(a) To make (one’s wit) keen or alert, sharpen; also, satisfy (one’s wits with sth.);
(b) to strengthen (one’s heart, will), fortify, steel.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cato(3) (Frf 14)178 : Study quettis þi witte.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2420 : I etill neuir Athenes with armes for to entre, Bot ȝow to question enquere & qwete [Dub: wete] with my wittis [alt. from: handis].
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.437 : He whette his herte and wil wiþ hardynesse and rood manliche þoruȝ oute þe company of Iewes.
5.
(a) To make (sb., an animal, etc.) eager, provoke (sb., the word of God, etc.); ~ oute; (b) to incite (conflict).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 12.14,15 : If ȝee…whetteþ not þe mowþ of þe lord, schuln ben & ȝee & þe kyng…folewynge þe lord…if forsoþe ȝee heeryn not þe voice of þe lord, but whetteþ out þe woord of hym, þe hand of þe lord schal ben vp on ȝou.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.6.34 : To olifantis thei shewiden blood of grape…for to whette [vr. whetten] hem in to bateil.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.341 : He…whette þe rude soules to goode wiþ þe whestoun of vertues, so þat þey forsook…evel manere of levynge.
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)243 : They that to wommen been I-whet so keene Our sharpe strokes…Shul feele and knowe & how they kerue & byte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1786 : Priamus…Is so inly with Ire and rancour fret, And with disdeyn so sore grounde & whet, Þat…Vp-on Grekis a werre he wil be-gynne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1354 : He…Most besy was Pallamydes topresse, Liche a lyoun whetted wiþ woodnes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2828 : On was þer þat ful euele spak To whette Brenne to reyse contak.
- (1452) Tiptoft Let.Cranebroke21 : Trustyng to god you to haue a sight of the Juel wich your corage hath whette so you to see.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)57 : Me semeth that your swete herte of stele Is whetted now ageynes me to kene.
- a1500 Counsels Isidor (Hrl 1706)369 : Þouȝ eny man sterre þe to wraþe, þouȝ he whette þee…be þou stylle.
b
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.183r : Ate last þey of the kynges half hadde the victorye, But that many of hem natheles were slay and hure cheuetayne also Ednod Hardynges ffader, that better coude wehette luther tonges stryf and chidyng thanne in battaylle wepene bywelde.