Welter

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -É›ltÉ™(ɹ)

From Middle Low German, from Proto-Germanic. Cognates include Old Norse velta (Danish vælte), German wälzen, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽. Akin to wallow, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 and Latin volvere.

Full definition of welter

Noun

1. general confusion; disorderly mixture; aimless effort; as, a welter of papers and magazines

Verb

1. (intransitive) to roll; to wallow
2. (intransitive, sometimes figurative) to be soaked or steeped in.
• LatimerWhen we welter in pleasures and idleness, then we eat and drink with drunkards.
• SpenserThese wizards welter in wealth's waves.
• Landorthe priests at the altar ... weltering in their blood
3. To rise and fall, as waves; to tumble over, as billows.
• Miltonthe weltering waves
• Wordsworthwaves that, hardly weltering, die away
• Trenchthrough this blindly weltering sea

Derived terms

• bewelter

Adjective

1. Of horsemen, heavyweight; as, a welter race.

Derived terms

• welter-weight

Compare wilt (intransitive verb).

Verb

1. To wither; to wilt.
• I. TaylorWeltered hearts and blighted ... memories.----