tap / space
Classic usage
Pronunciation: /ˈwɛt/
Reading level: hard
Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency
Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.
The verb is derived from Middle English whetten (“to make the edge of (a sword, tool, etc.) sharp; to grunt, snort; to scrape the ground with (one’s feet); to make a chattering or grinding sound; (figurative) of a person: to prepare for battle; to make (one’s wit) alert or keen; to strengthen (one’s heart or will); to incite, provoke”), from Old English hwettan (“to sharpen, whet; (figurative) to encourage, incite”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwattjan (“to sharpen, whet”), from Proto-Germanic *hwatjaną (“to sharpen, whet; (figurative) to incite, instigate”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₁d- (“sharp”). Verb sense 1.3.3 (“to inculcate or teach (habits, information, etc.)”) is from Deuteronomy 6:6–7 in the Bible (New International Version): “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.” The word translated as impress is Hebrew שָׁנַן (shanán, “to be sharp; to sharpen, whet”). The noun is derived from the verb. cognates * Dialectal Danish hvæde (“to whet”) * Dutch wetten (“to whet, sharpen”) * German wetzen (“to whet, sharpen”) * Icelandic hvetja (“to whet, encourage, catalyze”)
quicken
Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.
A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning
Tap any word for its meaning
Sign in to match your level.
Sign in to use the worksheet generator.
Upload a file or open a document first.
One printable exam — questions numbered continuously with a single answer key. Only auto-gradable, closed-choice types are available; online auto-grading stays in Classroom.
Your ledger is waiting
Read a chapter and tap the words you meet. Every word you learn is recorded here as your reading vocabulary grows.
Nothing's fading right now — you're all caught up.
—
Sign in to use vocabulary.
No vocabulary lists yet.
No matching vocabulary.
No words in this vocabulary yet.
Click a word in the Reader to add it.
Sign in to use bookmarks.
No bookmarks saved yet.
No matching bookmarks.
Sign in to save and open your own documents.
No saved documents yet.
Open a file or URL in the Reader, then use “Save to My Docs”.
All caught up — your streak is safe.
No cards due — add words to a list.
Loading…
tap / space
Classic usage
Loading…
Building today's round…
No tests yet. Open a book in the Reader or pick a vocabulary list, then test yourself to start tracking your score.
Recent books: 0 books
Verbault — Brown corpus levels, WordNet definitions, Gutenberg corpus.
Pick a puzzle source to start.
Sign in to use this source.