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.]
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.