whelm
UK: wɛlm | US: wɛlm
vt. to submerge or engulf completely (often used in passive constructions, e.g., "whelmed by emotions")
vt. archaic: to overturn or capsize (a vessel)
"Whelm" traces back to Old English hwelfan, meaning "to cover" or "to overturn." It shares roots with Middle Dutch welven (to arch over) and Old Norse hvelfa (to overturn). The word originally described physical submergence (e.g., waves overwhelming a ship) but later expanded metaphorically to emotional or abstract overwhelm. Its modern usage is rare outside passive constructions ("overwhelmed"), where the prefix over- intensifies the original sense of being submerged.
The boat was whelmed by the sudden storm.
She felt whelmed with gratitude after the surprise party.
Ancient texts describe how tidal waves could whelm entire villages.
The knight’s shield whelmed the enemy’s attack.
His enthusiasm whelmed the cautious atmosphere in the room.