from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Welter \Wel"ter\, v. 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 w[aum]lzen to welter, OHG. walzan to roll, Icel. velta,
Dan. v[ae]lte, Sw. v[aum]ltra, v[aum]lta; cf. Goth. waltjan;
probably akin to E. wallow, well, v. i. [root]146. See
{Well}, v. i., and cf. {Waltz}.]
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1. To roll, as the body of an animal; to tumble about,
especially in anything foul or defiling; to wallow.
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When we welter in pleasures and idleness, then we
eat and drink with drunkards. --Latimer.
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These wizards welter in wealth's waves. --Spenser.
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He must not float upon his watery bier
Unwept, and welter to the parching wind,
Without the meed of some melodious tear. --Milton.
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The priests at the altar . . . weltering in their
blood. --Landor.
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2. To rise and fall, as waves; to tumble over, as billows.
"The weltering waves." --Milton.
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Waves that, hardly weltering, die away.
--Wordsworth.
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Through this blindly weltering sea. --Trench.
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