I know you can be "overwhelmed," and you can be "underwhelmed," but ...

Jun 16, 2007 14:04

You can ALSO be just "whelmed," and not just in Europe!

Whelm, v.

1. intr. To overturn, capsize.

2. trans. To turn (a hollow vessel) upside down, or over or upon something so as to cover it; to turn with the concave side downwards.


b. gen. To turn downwards: in quots. with reference to Fortune's wheel.


c. To cover (a thing) by turning a vessel, etc. upside down over it.


d. To throw (something) over violently or in a heap upon something else, esp. so as to cover or to crush or smother it.


e. To turn over (soil, etc.) so as to expose the under parts.

3. intr. (poet.) To come or pass over something so as to cover it.


4. trans.


a. To cover completely with water or other fluid so as to ruin or destroy; to submerge, drown; occas. to sink (a boat).


b. To bury under a load of earth, snow, or the like.


5. transf. To engulf or bear down like a flood, storm, avalanche, etc.; hence, to involve in destruction or ruin.


a. in material sense.


b. in immaterial sense.

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