Wet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wet (rarely Wetted); p. pr. & vb. n. Wetting.]
[AS. wtan.] To fill or moisten with water or other liquid; to sprinkle;
to cause to have water or other fluid adherent to the surface; to dip
or soak in a liquid; as, to wet a sponge; to wet the hands; to wet
cloth. "[The scene] did draw tears from me and wetted my paper." Burke.
Ye mists and exhalations, that now rise . . . Whether to deck with
clouds the uncolored sky, Or wet the thirsty earth with falling
showers.
Milton.
To wet one's whistle, to moisten one's throat; to drink a dram of
liquor. [Colloq.]
Let us drink the other cup to wet our whistles.
Walton.
Wet"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The chaffinch, whose cry is thought to
foretell rain. [Prov. Eng.]
Weth"er (?), n. [OE. wether, AS. weðer; akin to OS. wethar, withar, a
ram, D. weder, G. widder, OHG. widar, Icel. veðr, Sw. vädur, Dan.
vædder, Goth. wiþrus a lamb, L. vitulus calf, Skr. vatsa, L. vetus old,
Gr. 'e`tos year; — originally meaning, a yearling. Cf. Veal, Veteran.]
A castrated ram.
Wet"ness (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being wet; moisture;
humidity; as, the wetness of land; the wetness of a cloth.
2. A watery or moist state of the atmosphere; a state of being rainy,
foggy, or misty; as, the wetness of weather or the season.
Wetness generally implies more water or liquid than is implied by
humidness or moisture.
Wet" nurse` (?). A nurse who suckles a child, especially the child of
another woman. Cf. Dry nurse.
Wet"-shod` (?), a. Having the feet, or the shoes on the feet, wet.
Wet"tish (?), a. Somewhat wet; moist; humid.
We"vil (?), n. See Weevil.
Wex (?), v. t. & i. To grow; to wax. [Obs.] Chaucer. "Each wexing
moon." Dryden.
Wex, obs. imp. of Wex. Waxed. Chaucer.
Wex, n. Wax. [Obs.] "Yelwe as wex." Chaucer.
Wey (?), n. Way; road; path. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Wey, v. t. & i. To weigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Wey (?), n. [OE. weye, AS. w&?;ge weight. &?;&?;&?;&?;. See Weight.] A
certain measure of weight. [Eng.] "A weye of Essex cheese." Piers
Plowman.
A wey is 6&?; tods, or 182 pounds, of wool; a load, or five quarters,
of wheat, 40 bushels of salt, each weighing 56 pounds; 32 cloves of
cheese, each weighing seven pounds; 48 bushels of oats and barley; and
from two cwt. to three cwt. of butter. Simmonds.
Weyle (?), v. t. & i. To wail. [Obs.] Chaucer.