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Whelm: meaning, definitions and examples

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whelm

 

[ wษ›lm ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

overcome emotionally

To whelm means to engulf or submerge completely, often in a metaphorical sense, such as overwhelming someone with emotions. It can also refer to a situation where one is overpowered or overwhelmed by events or feelings.

Synonyms

overcome, overwhelm, submerge

Examples of usage

  • She was whelmed by the unexpected news.
  • The emotions whelmed him as he faced his past.
  • Nature's beauty can whelm the senses.
Context #2 | Verb

cover completely

In a literal sense, to whelm can mean to cover or envelop something completely, as in water whelming a landscape. This usage is less common but conveys a similar sense of totality.

Synonyms

envelop, overwhelm, submerge

Examples of usage

  • The floodwaters whelmed the town.
  • In the storm, the sea whelmed the coastline.
  • Whelmed by the tide, the shoreline disappeared.

Translations

Translations of the word "whelm" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น submergir

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคกเฅเคฌเฅ‹เคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช รผberwรคltigen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menenggelamkan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะพั‚ะพะฟะธั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ przytล‚oczyฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅœงๅ€’ใ™ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท submerger

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ abrumar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท boฤŸmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์••๋„ํ•˜๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠุบู…ุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ pล™evlรกdnout

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ prevalcovaลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆทนๆฒก

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ prevladati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ yfirvalda

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑาฏะปั–ะบั‚ั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒ“แƒแƒงแƒแƒšแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ boฤŸmaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ abrumar

Etymology

The word 'whelm' comes from the Old English 'hwilmian,' which meant to turn or overturn. It is related to the Old Norse word 'hvalmr,' meaning 'to cover' or 'to envelop.' Historically, 'whelm' was used in English to describe the act of overturning or submerging something, usually in relation to water. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass a broader sense of being overwhelmed emotionally or in situations. While its usage has declined, it remains a vivid term that captures the essence of being completely overcome or encompassed by an experience.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,410, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.