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. wölben, OHG. welben, Icel. hvelfa to overturn; cf. Gr. bosom, a hollow, a gulf.]
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1. To cover with water or other fluid; to cover by immersion in something that envelops on all sides; to overwhelm; to ingulf.
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She is my prize, or ocean whelm them all! Shak.
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The whelming billow and the faithless oar. Gay.
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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.
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3. To throw (something) over a thing so as to cover it. [Obs.] Mortimer.
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