חָדַד

חָדַד(b. h.) (to cut, point, to be sharp, pointed. Pi. חִידֵּד to sharpen, whet point. Y.Bets. V, 63b top לחַדֵּד ראשווכ׳ they differ as to pointing the top of the spit (on the Holy Day)Trnsf. to whet the mind, to try somebodys acumen, to puzzle. Taan.7a (ref. to Prov. 27:17) אף … מְחַדְּדִיןוכ׳ so do two scholars whet each others mind Naz.59b, a. e. לא אמר … לחַדֵּד בהוכ׳ R. J. said it only in order to encourage the students in raising points; a. e.Part. pass. מְחוּדָּד sharpened, well discussed, clear and ready. Kidd.30a (ref. to ושננתם, Deut. 6:7) שיהוד״ת מְחוּדָּדִים בפיך that the words of the Law be ever ready in thy mouth (Sifré Deut. 34 מְסוּדָּרִים), v. גִּמְגֵּם. Hithpa. הִתְחַדֵּד to be whetted. Gen. R. s. 69 אין סכין מִתְחַדֶּדֶתוכ׳ a knife is whetted on the broad side of another, כך איןת״ח מִתְחַדֵּדוכ׳ so is a students mind whetted by a fellow-student, v. supra.