ˈhw]elm, ]eu̇m also ˈw]\ verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English whelmen, perhaps alteration (influenced by helmen to helm) of whelven to turn upside down — more at helm , whelve
transitive verb
1.
a. dialect England : to turn (as a dish or vessel) upside down usually to cover something
b. : to throw or place (an object) upon something so as to engulf or crush it
whelms his hat down over his eyes
2.
a. : to cover or engulf completely usually so as to wreck or destroy : bury , submerge
sand all around them, about to creep up on them and whelm them — Mary H. Vorse
the avalanche whelms the mountain village in tons of snow
b. : to engulf or overcome in the manner of a storm or flood with usually disastrous effect
winter darkness whelms the woods
long afterwards whelmed in some European convulsion — G.M.Trevelyan
booming money … so fast that the problem was how to get rid of it before it whelmed you into suffocation — William Faulkner
c. : to overcome in thought or feeling : overwhelm
had been so whelmed in astonishment that they had not lifted a finger to aid their chief — C.E.Craddock
drawn into overmastering passion, whelmed with a rush of joy and triumph — G.A.Wagner
gathering around to whelm him with arguments
intransitive verb
: to pass or go over something so as to bury or submerge
the river whelmed — Kenneth Rexroth
the battle lines whelmed and divided — C.P.Aiken
Synonyms: see overpower