overwhelmv.

Brit.

/ˌəʊvəˈwɛlm/, U.S.

/ˌoʊvərˈ(h)wɛlm/

Forms: see over- prefix and whelm v.; also 1500s onerwhelme (transmission error).

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: over- prefix, whelm v.

Etymology: < over- prefix + whelm v. Compare to whelm over (see whelm v. 2) and overwhelve v.

†1.

a. transitive. To overturn, overthrow, upset; to turn upside down. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > capsize or upset

overcastc1230

overturnc1300

overthrowc1330

to-turna1382

overwhelm?a1400

tilta1400

tipa1400

welt?a1400

overtiltc1400

tirvec1420

reverse?a1439

devolvec1470

subvert1479

welter?a1505

renverse1521

tumble1534

verse1556

upturn1567

overwhirl1577

rewalt1587

subverse1590

overset1599

overtumble1600

walt1611

to fetch up1615

ramvert1632

treveer1636

transvolve1644

capsize1788

upset1806

keel1828

overwelt1828

pitch-pole1851

purl1856

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 190 Þe body he did ouerwhelm, his hede touched þe croupe.

Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 374 (MED) Ovyr qwelmyn, or qwelme: Suppino.

a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vii. Prol. 18 Quhen brym blastis of the northyne art Ourquhelmit had Neptunus in his cart.

a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Fourth Bk. Aeneas (1554) iv. sig. Civ^v Lyke to the aged..oke..which..Northern windes..Betwyxt them stryue to ouerwhelme wyth blastes.

1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. ix. 344 Barkes and botes..sayling downe the riuer of Niger are greatly endangered by this sea-horse, for oftentimes he ouerwhelmeth and sinketh them.

1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 85 The earthquake..overwhelmed a chain of mountains of free stone more than 300 miles long.

b. intransitive. To turn over or revolve; to roll or tumble over. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > revolve or rotate [verb (intransitive)] > turn over and over or roll

trenda1000

trendlea1225

rollc1405

overwhelma1425

windle1487

trill1531

volve1568

troll1581

tirl1824

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 3775 The see may never be so stille That with a litel wynde it nille Overwhelme and turne also.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 560 Flames þe flode as it fire were,..And þane ouer-qwelmys in a qwirre and qwatis euer e-like.

1661 T. Allin Jrnl. 30 Aug. (1939) (modernized text) I. i. 51 In the narrow we sunk our long-boat and overwhelmed before we could get our topsails down and broke both her fasts.

c. transitive. To rotate or turn round (a wheel). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > revolve or rotate [verb (transitive)] > as (on) a wheel

turnOE

swinga1225

wheelc1374

to turn abouta1382

overwhelmc1440

swinge1548

c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 3261 (MED) Abowte cho whirllide a whele with hir whitte hondez, Ouerwhelme alle qwayntely þe whele as cho scholde.

d. transitive. To throw (something) in a heap upon something else; to turn or wind (something) around something else. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > [verb (transitive)] > coil round (something) > coil (something) round or upon itself

windc1325

wrap?1523

to roll up1530

wreathe1530

upwind1560

twist1582

twinec1585

circumvolute1599

bottom1612

rolla1616

overwhelm1634

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > throw down > in a confused heap > upon something else

overwhelm1634

1634 T. Heywood Maidenhead Lost ii, in Wks. (1874) IV. 120 Thou hast ouerwhelm'd vpon my aged head Mountaines of griefe.

1684 D. Papin in T. Birch Hist. Royal Soc. (1757) IV. 288 Then I overwhelm a broader pipe about the first.

a. transitive. To bring to sudden ruin or destruction; to engulf; to crush; to defeat utterly or conclusively. Also: to overcome or overpower with excess of work, responsibility, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > crush, stifle, or overwhelm (feelings, etc.)

shendOE

whelvec1000

allayOE

ofdrunkenc1175

quenchc1175

quashc1275

stanchc1315

quella1325

slockena1340

drenchc1374

vanquishc1380

stuffa1387

daunt?a1400

adauntc1400

to put downa1425

overwhelmc1425

overwhelvec1450

quatc1450

slockc1485

suppressa1500

suffocate1526

quealc1530

to trample under foot1530

repress1532

quail1533

suppress1537

infringe1543

revocate1547

whelm1553

queasom1561

knetcha1564

squench1577

restinguish1579

to keep down1581

trample1583

repel1592

accable1602

crush1610

to wrestle down?1611

chokea1616

stranglea1616

stifle1621

smother1632

overpower1646

resuppress1654

strangulate1665

instranglea1670

to choke back, down, in, out1690

to nip or crush in the bud1746

spiflicate1749

squasha1777

to get under1799

burke1835

to stamp out1851

to trample down1853

quelch1864

to sit upon ——1864

squelch1864

smash1865

garrotte1878

scotch1888

douse1916

to drive under1920

stomp1936

stultify1958

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or overwhelm

overcomeeOE

overgangOE

overnimOE

overswivec1175

foldc1275

overgoc1275

to bear downc1330

oversetc1330

outrayc1390

overleada1393

overreach?a1425

overwhelmc1425

to whelve overc1440

overruna1475

surprise1474

overpress1489

surbatea1500

overhale1531

overbear1535

overcrow1550

disable1582

surgain1586

overpower1597

overman1609

to come over ——1637

to run down1655

overpower1667

compel1697

to get over ——1784

overget1877

to grab (also take) by the balls1934

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. 1016 (MED) O ydel fame, blowe up to þe skye, Ouer-whelmyd with twyncling of an eye!

a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. 5503 (MED) Thus ouerwhelmyd was al his worthynesse, And to declyn wente his prosperite.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. i. 63 To confound and ourquhelm our cite.

1574 J. Baret Aluearie O 195 To be ouerwhelmed with businesse or to haue more to dooe than he can turne his self too.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxix. 172 When the Spirituall power, moveth the Members of a Common-wealth..otherwise than by the Civill Power.., it must needs thereby Distract the people, and either Overwhelm the Common-wealth with Oppression, or cast it into the Fire of a Civill warre.

1692 tr. Sallust Wks. 29 We Starve at home, abroad our debts ore-whelm us.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 153. ⁋10 Neither my modesty nor prudence were overwhelmed by affluence.

1789 J. Bentham Introd. Princ. Morals & Legisl. xii. p. clix The weak would..be oppressed and injured in all manner of ways, by the strong at home, and both together overwhelmed by oppressors from abroad.

1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. ii. iii. 230 Such an event must overwhelm him in irretrievable ruin.

1865 A. Trollope Can you forgive Her? II. xvii. 131 Must she see him ruined and overwhelmed by want of money?

1959 Economist 14 Feb. 590/2 The counter-force strategy was based on the assumption that the Russians' own bases could be overwhelmed virtually at a single blow.

1989 Japan Times 15 May 7/1 Japan also overwhelmed the Soviets 4–1.

b. transitive. To overcome or overpower (a person, the mind, etc.) with emotion. Also (occasionally) intransitive.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > passion > affect with passion or strong emotion [verb (transitive)] > overwhelm with strong emotion

overcomeeOE

overseteOE

overtakea1400

overwhelm1535

entrance1598

usurp1749

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms liv. 4 An horrible drede hath ouerwhelmed me.

1568 MS Bannatyne Index f. 370^v Being ourquhelmd with dolour and with cair.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 159 Sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm'd, Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge Bold or loquacious, thus abasht repli'd [etc.] .

1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 349 I was overwhelm'd with the Sense of my Condition.

1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. vi. 140 Albert Malvoisin was overwhelmed with confusion.

1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xxxi. 410 Here a shout of laughter overwhelmed the young man.

1961 I. Murdoch Severed Head xii. 110 A protective love for Antonia overwhelmed me, a desire to carry her away and hide her.

1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 48 As he watched his fetid pish splash into the pan, his brain allowed itself to be overwhelmed with delicious thoughts.

c. transitive. To deluge or inundate (with).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > do (something) to excess [verb (transitive)] > apply in excess > overwhelm with excessive amount

plaster1546

inundate1623

deluge1654

overwhelm1806

flood1882

1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London I. x. 255 He found him..surrounded by the whole party..who were overwhelming him with praises.

1853 C. Kingsley Hypatia II. i. 11 He began overwhelming the old man with inquiries about himself, Pambo, and each and all of the inhabitants.

1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 238/2 The sort of people whom the advertiser desires to reach..are overwhelmed by tradesmen's price-lists,..and other suggestions for the spending of money.

1992 D. Spoto Laurence Olivier x. 219 Journalists had trumpeted the news of the Old Vic firing, and editors of every paper were overwhelmed with public letters of protest.

a. transitive. To bury or drown beneath a mass of earth, water, etc.; to submerge completely; to destroy or obliterate by covering with something.

ΚΠ

?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 4964 (MED) Þe erthe sall þaim ouer whelme.

a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) 10115 (MED) Evere the soond lyth in hyr way, Overwhelmeth & bereth hyr doun.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) i. xii. 15 The hevin ourquhelmys the donk nycht.

1574 J. Baret Aluearie O 195 To Ouerwhelme: to couer cleane ouer & ouer with earth or other thinges, to hide in the ground.

1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 116 Adrian..dedicated another Temple to Iupiter, that former being ouer-whelmed with earth.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 748 The floating Vessel swum Uplifted; and secure with beaked prow Rode tilting o're the Waves, all dwellings else Flood overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp Deep under water rould.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. x. 136 Famous Rivers lessening into shallow Brooks, the Ocean leaving one Coast dry, and overwhelming another.

1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters i. 32 Large tracts..are every winter over-whelmed with an inundation.

1812 T. Jefferson Let. 21 Jan. in Writings (1984) 1259 Laboring always at the same oar, with some wave ever ahead threatening to overwhelm us.., we rode through the storm.

1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 192 Pompeii was overwhelmed by a vast accumulation of dust and ashes.

1904 J. London Sea-wolf xix. 185 It was slow work in the heavy sea that was running. At any moment they were liable to be overwhelmed by the hissing combers.

1993 N.Y. Times 8 Jan. a14/1 One pollen grain found in the amber had been sprouting a bud when the resin overwhelmed it, preserving the instant of its germination for a quarter billion years.

2004 Sunday Times 18 Jan. (Mag. section) 14/2 I had recurrent dreams about being overwhelmed by vast waves.

†b. transitive. Of a person's brow: to overhang, esp. so as to cover (the eyes). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > high position > overhanging > overhang [verb (transitive)]

overhangOE

overdight1581

overdrip1587

overwhelm1593

overdrop1608

juttya1616

overbrow1718

overlean1827

overplume1854

overlop1893

oversail1912

1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Biiij^v His lowring browes ore-whelming his faire sight, Like mistie vapors when they blot the skie.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iii. i. 11 Then lend the Eye a terrible aspect:..let the Brow o'rewhelme it, As fearefully, as doth a galled Rocke O're-hang and iutty his confounded Base.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	overwhelm
释义	overwhelmn. Brit. /ˈəʊvəwɛlm/, U.S. /ˈoʊvərˌ(h)wɛlm/ Forms: see overwhelm v. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: overwhelm v. Etymology: < overwhelm v. The action of overwhelming; the fact or state of being overwhelmed; an instance of this. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > passion > [noun] > fact of being overwhelmed by strong emotion overwhelm1596 the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [noun] > act of causing wonder amazing1530 mazing1583 overwhelm1596 stun1727 zapping1972 1596 A. Copley Fig for Fortune 54 Temprance against faire Fortunes ouerwhelme. 1745 E. Young Consolation 36 In such an Overwhelm Of Wonderful, on Man's astonish'd Sight, Rushes Omnipotence? 1863 A. D. Whitney Faith Gartney (1869) xxxiv. 318 The first overwhelm of astonishment. a1961 R. Atkins Drop of Blood iii. iv, in Phenomena (1961) 29 That same, solemn weary is falling on me The overwhelm of some subsistent eternity. 1990 J. Bradshaw Homecoming iv. 100 They are there in case a person goes into emotional overwhelm. Overwhelm can occur when a person regresses into toxically shamed or enmeshed emotions. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022). overwhelmv. Brit. /ˌəʊvəˈwɛlm/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈ(h)wɛlm/ Forms: see over- prefix and whelm v.; also 1500s onerwhelme (transmission error). Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: over- prefix, whelm v. Etymology: < over- prefix + whelm v. Compare to whelm over (see whelm v. 2) and overwhelve v. †1. a. transitive. To overturn, overthrow, upset; to turn upside down. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > capsize or upset overcastc1230 overturnc1300 overthrowc1330 to-turna1382 overwhelm?a1400 tilta1400 tipa1400 welt?a1400 overtiltc1400 tirvec1420 reverse?a1439 devolvec1470 subvert1479 welter?a1505 renverse1521 tumble1534 verse1556 upturn1567 overwhirl1577 rewalt1587 subverse1590 overset1599 overtumble1600 walt1611 to fetch up1615 ramvert1632 treveer1636 transvolve1644 capsize1788 upset1806 keel1828 overwelt1828 pitch-pole1851 purl1856 ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 190 Þe body he did ouerwhelm, his hede touched þe croupe. Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 374 (MED) Ovyr qwelmyn, or qwelme: Suppino. a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vii. Prol. 18 Quhen brym blastis of the northyne art Ourquhelmit had Neptunus in his cart. a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Fourth Bk. Aeneas (1554) iv. sig. Civ^v Lyke to the aged..oke..which..Northern windes..Betwyxt them stryue to ouerwhelme wyth blastes. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. ix. 344 Barkes and botes..sayling downe the riuer of Niger are greatly endangered by this sea-horse, for oftentimes he ouerwhelmeth and sinketh them. 1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 85 The earthquake..overwhelmed a chain of mountains of free stone more than 300 miles long. b. intransitive. To turn over or revolve; to roll or tumble over. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > revolve or rotate [verb (intransitive)] > turn over and over or roll trenda1000 trendlea1225 rollc1405 overwhelma1425 windle1487 trill1531 volve1568 troll1581 tirl1824 a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 3775 The see may never be so stille That with a litel wynde it nille Overwhelme and turne also. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 560 Flames þe flode as it fire were,..And þane ouer-qwelmys in a qwirre and qwatis euer e-like. 1661 T. Allin Jrnl. 30 Aug. (1939) (modernized text) I. i. 51 In the narrow we sunk our long-boat and overwhelmed before we could get our topsails down and broke both her fasts. c. transitive. To rotate or turn round (a wheel). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > revolve or rotate [verb (transitive)] > as (on) a wheel turnOE swinga1225 wheelc1374 to turn abouta1382 overwhelmc1440 swinge1548 c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 3261 (MED) Abowte cho whirllide a whele with hir whitte hondez, Ouerwhelme alle qwayntely þe whele as cho scholde. d. transitive. To throw (something) in a heap upon something else; to turn or wind (something) around something else. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > [verb (transitive)] > coil round (something) > coil (something) round or upon itself windc1325 wrap?1523 to roll up1530 wreathe1530 upwind1560 twist1582 twinec1585 circumvolute1599 bottom1612 rolla1616 overwhelm1634 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > throw down > in a confused heap > upon something else overwhelm1634 1634 T. Heywood Maidenhead Lost ii, in Wks. (1874) IV. 120 Thou hast ouerwhelm'd vpon my aged head Mountaines of griefe. 1684 D. Papin in T. Birch Hist. Royal Soc. (1757) IV. 288 Then I overwhelm a broader pipe about the first. 2. a. transitive. To bring to sudden ruin or destruction; to engulf; to crush; to defeat utterly or conclusively. Also: to overcome or overpower with excess of work, responsibility, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > crush, stifle, or overwhelm (feelings, etc.) shendOE whelvec1000 allayOE ofdrunkenc1175 quenchc1175 quashc1275 stanchc1315 quella1325 slockena1340 drenchc1374 vanquishc1380 stuffa1387 daunt?a1400 adauntc1400 to put downa1425 overwhelmc1425 overwhelvec1450 quatc1450 slockc1485 suppressa1500 suffocate1526 quealc1530 to trample under foot1530 repress1532 quail1533 suppress1537 infringe1543 revocate1547 whelm1553 queasom1561 knetcha1564 squench1577 restinguish1579 to keep down1581 trample1583 repel1592 accable1602 crush1610 to wrestle down?1611 chokea1616 stranglea1616 stifle1621 smother1632 overpower1646 resuppress1654 strangulate1665 instranglea1670 to choke back, down, in, out1690 to nip or crush in the bud1746 spiflicate1749 squasha1777 to get under1799 burke1835 to stamp out1851 to trample down1853 quelch1864 to sit upon ——1864 squelch1864 smash1865 garrotte1878 scotch1888 douse1916 to drive under1920 stomp1936 stultify1958 the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or overwhelm overcomeeOE overgangOE overnimOE overswivec1175 foldc1275 overgoc1275 to bear downc1330 oversetc1330 outrayc1390 overleada1393 overreach?a1425 overwhelmc1425 to whelve overc1440 overruna1475 surprise1474 overpress1489 surbatea1500 overhale1531 overbear1535 overcrow1550 disable1582 surgain1586 overpower1597 overman1609 to come over ——1637 to run down1655 overpower1667 compel1697 to get over ——1784 overget1877 to grab (also take) by the balls1934 c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. 1016 (MED) O ydel fame, blowe up to þe skye, Ouer-whelmyd with twyncling of an eye! a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) i. 5503 (MED) Thus ouerwhelmyd was al his worthynesse, And to declyn wente his prosperite. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. i. 63 To confound and ourquhelm our cite. 1574 J. Baret Aluearie O 195 To be ouerwhelmed with businesse or to haue more to dooe than he can turne his self too. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxix. 172 When the Spirituall power, moveth the Members of a Common-wealth..otherwise than by the Civill Power.., it must needs thereby Distract the people, and either Overwhelm the Common-wealth with Oppression, or cast it into the Fire of a Civill warre. 1692 tr. Sallust Wks. 29 We Starve at home, abroad our debts ore-whelm us. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 153. ⁋10 Neither my modesty nor prudence were overwhelmed by affluence. 1789 J. Bentham Introd. Princ. Morals & Legisl. xii. p. clix The weak would..be oppressed and injured in all manner of ways, by the strong at home, and both together overwhelmed by oppressors from abroad. 1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. ii. iii. 230 Such an event must overwhelm him in irretrievable ruin. 1865 A. Trollope Can you forgive Her? II. xvii. 131 Must she see him ruined and overwhelmed by want of money? 1959 Economist 14 Feb. 590/2 The counter-force strategy was based on the assumption that the Russians' own bases could be overwhelmed virtually at a single blow. 1989 Japan Times 15 May 7/1 Japan also overwhelmed the Soviets 4–1. b. transitive. To overcome or overpower (a person, the mind, etc.) with emotion. Also (occasionally) intransitive. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > passion > affect with passion or strong emotion [verb (transitive)] > overwhelm with strong emotion overcomeeOE overseteOE overtakea1400 overwhelm1535 entrance1598 usurp1749 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms liv. 4 An horrible drede hath ouerwhelmed me. 1568 MS Bannatyne Index f. 370^v Being ourquhelmd with dolour and with cair. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 159 Sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm'd, Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge Bold or loquacious, thus abasht repli'd [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 349 I was overwhelm'd with the Sense of my Condition. 1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. vi. 140 Albert Malvoisin was overwhelmed with confusion. 1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xxxi. 410 Here a shout of laughter overwhelmed the young man. 1961 I. Murdoch Severed Head xii. 110 A protective love for Antonia overwhelmed me, a desire to carry her away and hide her. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 48 As he watched his fetid pish splash into the pan, his brain allowed itself to be overwhelmed with delicious thoughts. c. transitive. To deluge or inundate (with). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > do (something) to excess [verb (transitive)] > apply in excess > overwhelm with excessive amount plaster1546 inundate1623 deluge1654 overwhelm1806 flood1882 1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London I. x. 255 He found him..surrounded by the whole party..who were overwhelming him with praises. 1853 C. Kingsley Hypatia II. i. 11 He began overwhelming the old man with inquiries about himself, Pambo, and each and all of the inhabitants. 1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 238/2 The sort of people whom the advertiser desires to reach..are overwhelmed by tradesmen's price-lists,..and other suggestions for the spending of money. 1992 D. Spoto Laurence Olivier x. 219 Journalists had trumpeted the news of the Old Vic firing, and editors of every paper were overwhelmed with public letters of protest. 3. a. transitive. To bury or drown beneath a mass of earth, water, etc.; to submerge completely; to destroy or obliterate by covering with something. ΚΠ ?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 4964 (MED) Þe erthe sall þaim ouer whelme. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) 10115 (MED) Evere the soond lyth in hyr way, Overwhelmeth & bereth hyr doun. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) i. xii. 15 The hevin ourquhelmys the donk nycht. 1574 J. Baret Aluearie O 195 To Ouerwhelme: to couer cleane ouer & ouer with earth or other thinges, to hide in the ground. 1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 116 Adrian..dedicated another Temple to Iupiter, that former being ouer-whelmed with earth. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 748 The floating Vessel swum Uplifted; and secure with beaked prow Rode tilting o're the Waves, all dwellings else Flood overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp Deep under water rould. View more context for this quotation 1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. x. 136 Famous Rivers lessening into shallow Brooks, the Ocean leaving one Coast dry, and overwhelming another. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters i. 32 Large tracts..are every winter over-whelmed with an inundation. 1812 T. Jefferson Let. 21 Jan. in Writings (1984) 1259 Laboring always at the same oar, with some wave ever ahead threatening to overwhelm us.., we rode through the storm. 1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 192 Pompeii was overwhelmed by a vast accumulation of dust and ashes. 1904 J. London Sea-wolf xix. 185 It was slow work in the heavy sea that was running. At any moment they were liable to be overwhelmed by the hissing combers. 1993 N.Y. Times 8 Jan. a14/1 One pollen grain found in the amber had been sprouting a bud when the resin overwhelmed it, preserving the instant of its germination for a quarter billion years. 2004 Sunday Times 18 Jan. (Mag. section) 14/2 I had recurrent dreams about being overwhelmed by vast waves. †b. transitive. Of a person's brow: to overhang, esp. so as to cover (the eyes). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > high position > overhanging > overhang [verb (transitive)] overhangOE overdight1581 overdrip1587 overwhelm1593 overdrop1608 juttya1616 overbrow1718 overlean1827 overplume1854 overlop1893 oversail1912 1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Biiij^v His lowring browes ore-whelming his faire sight, Like mistie vapors when they blot the skie. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iii. i. 11 Then lend the Eye a terrible aspect:..let the Brow o'rewhelme it, As fearefully, as doth a galled Rocke O're-hang and iutty his confounded Base. View more context for this quotation This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.1596v.?a1400
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overwhelmn.

overwhelmv.