whelm
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whelm
(wĕlm, hwĕlm)tr.v. whelmed, whelm·ing, whelms Archaic
1. To cover with water; submerge.
2. To overwhelm.
[Middle English whelmen, to overturn, probably alteration (influenced by helmen, to cover) of whelven, from Old English -hwelfan (as in āhwelfan, to cover over).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
whelm
(wɛlm)vb (tr)
1. to engulf entirely with or as if with water
2. another word for overwhelm
[C13: whelmen to turn over, of uncertain origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
whelm
(ʰwɛlm, wɛlm)v.t.
1. to submerge; engulf.
2. to overcome utterly; overwhelm: whelmed by misfortune.
v.i. 3. to roll or surge over something, as in causing it to submerge.
[1250–1300; Middle English whelme, appar. b. dial. whelve (Old English gehwelfan to bend over) and helm2 (v.) (Old English helmian to cover)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
whelm
Past participle: whelmed
Gerund: whelming
| Imperative |
|---|
| whelm |
| whelm |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Verb | 1. | whelm - overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli devastate - overwhelm or overpower; "He was devastated by his grief when his son died" clutch, get hold of, seize - affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful disease" arouse, elicit, evoke, provoke, enkindle, kindle, fire, raise - call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy" kill - overwhelm with hilarity, pleasure, or admiration; "The comedian was so funny, he was killing me!" benight - overtake with darkness or night knock out - overwhelm with admiration; "All the guys were knocked out by her charm" stagger - astound or overwhelm, as with shock; "She was staggered with bills after she tried to rebuild her house following the earthquake" lock - hold fast (in a certain state); "He was locked in a laughing fit" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
whelm
verb1. To flow over completely:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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