whelm Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
    overtake; overwhelm; overpower; overcome; sweep over.

WordNet

Whelm transitive verb
Etymology
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. wölben, OHG. welben, Icel. hvelfa to overturn; cf. Gr. bosom, a hollow, a gulf.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Whelmed ; present participle & verbal noun Whelming
Definitions
  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