Whelm (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whelmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Whelming.] [OE. whelmen to turn over, akin to OE. whelven, AS. whelfan, hwylfan, in whylfan, whelfan, to overwhelm, cover over; akin to OS. bihwelbian, D. welven to arch, G. wolben, OHG. welben, Icel. hvelfa to overturn; cf. Gr. bosom, a hollow, a gulf.]

1.

To cover with water or other fluid; to cover by immersion in something that envelops on all sides; to overwhelm; to ingulf.

She is my prize, or ocean whelm them all! Shak.

The whelming billow and the faithless oar. Gay.

2.

Fig.: To cover completely, as if with water; to immerse; to overcome; as, to whelm one in sorrows.

"The whelming weight of crime."

J. H. Newman.

3.

To throw (something) over a thing so as to cover it.

[Obs.]

Mortimer.

 

© Webster 1913.

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