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Webster 1913 Edition

Welter

Wel′ter

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Weltered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Weltering
.]
[Freq. of OE.
walten
to roll over, AS.
wealtan
; akin to LG.
weltern
, G.
walzen
to roll, to waltz, sich
wälzen
to welter, OHG.
walzan
to roll, Icel.
velta
, Dan.
vælte
, Sw.
vältra
,
välta
; cf. Goth.
waltjan
; probably akin to E.
wallow
,
well
, v. i. √146. See
Well
,
Verb.
I.
, and cf.
Waltz
.]
1.
To roll, as the body of an animal; to tumble about, especially in anything foul or defiling; to wallow.
When we
welter
in pleasures and idleness, then we eat and drink with drunkards.
Latimer.
These wizards
welter
in wealth’s waves.
Spenser.
He must not float upon his watery bier
Unwept, and
welter
to the parching wind,
Without the meed of some melodious tear.
Milton.
The priests at the altar . . .
weltering
in their blood.
Landor.
2.
To rise and fall, as waves; to tumble over, as billows.
“The weltering waves.”
Milton.
Waves that, hardly
weltering
, die away.
Wordsworth.
Through this blindly
weltering
sea.
Trench.

Wel′ter

,
Verb.
T.
[Cf.
Wilt
,
Verb.
I.
]
To wither; to wilt.
[R.]
Weltered
hearts and blighted . . . memories.
I. Taylor.

Wel′ter

,
Adj.
(Horse Racing)
Of, pertaining to, or designating, the most heavily weighted race in a meeting;
as, a
welter
race; the
welter
stakes
.

Wel′ter

,
Noun.
1.
That in which any person or thing welters, or wallows; filth; mire; slough.
The foul
welter
of our so-called religious or other controversies.
Carlyle.
2.
A rising or falling, as of waves;
as, the
welter
of the billows; the
welter
of a tempest
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Welter

WELTER

,
Verb.
T.
[G., L.] To roll, as the body of an animal; but usually, to roll or wallow in some foul matter; as, to welter in blood or in filth.

Definition 2025

welter

welter

See also: wélter

English

Noun

welter ‎(plural welters)

  1. A general confusion or muddle
    a welter of papers and magazines

Verb

welter ‎(third-person singular simple present welters, present participle weltering, simple past and past participle weltered)

  1. (intransitive) To roll around; to wallow.
  2. (intransitive, sometimes figuratively) To be soaked or covered in.
    • Latimer
      When we welter in pleasures and idleness, then we eat and drink with drunkards.
    • Spenser
      These wizards welter in wealth's waves.
    • Landor
      the priests at the altar […] weltering in their blood
  3. (of waves) To rise and fall,
  4. to tumble over (said of billows).
    • Milton
      the weltering waves
    • Wordsworth
      waves that, hardly weltering, die away
    • Trench
      through this blindly weltering sea
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Adjective

welter

  1. Heavyweight (of horsemen).
    a welter race
Translations
Derived terms

Etymology 3

Compare wilt (intransitive verb).

Verb

welter ‎(third-person singular simple present welters, present participle weltering, simple past and past participle weltered)

  1. To wither; to wilt.
    • I. Taylor
      Weltered hearts and blighted […] memories.

Italian

Etymology

Borrowing from English welter.

Noun

welter m ‎(invariable)

  1. welter-weight

Synonyms

  • peso welter

Etymology

Borrowing from Middle Low German [Term?], from Proto-Germanic [Term?]. Cognates include Old Norse velta (Danish vælte), German wälzen, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 ‎(waltjan). Akin to wallow, Gothic *𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 ‎(*walwjan) and Latin volvō.

Pronunciation

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