welter

¹

[ wel-ter ]

verb (used without object)

1. to roll, toss, or heave, as waves or the sea.
2. to roll, writhe, or tumble about; wallow, as animals (often followed by about ):

   pigs weltering about happily in the mud.

3. to lie bathed in or be drenched in something, especially blood.
4. to become deeply or extensively involved, associated, entangled, etc.:

   to welter in setbacks, confusion, and despair.

noun

1. a confused mass; a jumble or muddle:

   a welter of anxious faces.

2. a state of commotion, turmoil, or upheaval:

   the welter that followed the surprise attack.

   Synonyms: tumult, confusion

3. a rolling, tossing, or tumbling about, as or as if by the sea, waves, or wind:

   They found the shore through the mighty welter.

welter

²

[ wel-ter ]

noun

1. Informal. a welterweight boxer or wrestler.

adjective

1. (of a steeplechase or hurdle race) pertaining to, or noting a race in which the horses bear welterweights.

welter

/ ˈwɛltə /

verb

1. to roll about, writhe, or wallow
2. (esp of the sea) to surge, heave, or toss
3. to lie drenched in a liquid, esp blood

noun

1. a rolling motion, as of the sea
2. a confused mass; jumble

Word History and Origins

Origin of welter¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English welteren, welten “tumble, fall over; writhe,” Old English wiltan, weltan “roll”; cognate with Middle Dutch welteren, Low German weltern “to roll”

Origin of welter²

First recorded in 1785–95; of uncertain origin; perhaps from welt in the sense “to beat soundly” + -er ¹, or welter ¹ in the sense “a rolling or tossing about”

Word History and Origins

Origin of welter¹

C13: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch weltern; related to Old High German walzan, welzen to roll

Example Sentences

Yes, they will include the nightmare of college applications as well as the ongoing pressure of AP classes, basketball, community service and the inevitable welter of extracurriculars — as students are continually told, senior year should be fun, but they’re still building those all important “résumés.”

From Los Angeles Times

Anyone who has bought into the Republican condemnation of Democrats as the “godless” left was no doubt surprised by the welter of references to many faiths.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2020, Buttigieg ran for president, and as the first out gay Democratic candidate for the office, he faced down the predictable welter of homophobic attacks with a dismissive ease that underlined the hateful absurdity of such things.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, a steady rain of video content soaked every media platform available: trailers, clips and photos, obviously, plus a welter of behind-the-scenes clips — always fun to see wig maintenance and actors trying to stay warm in period costumes — and every sort of interview imaginable with the large and winning cast.

From Los Angeles Times

One need take only a cursory glance around social media to find a welter of opinions promoting, decrying, or mocking a set of social arrangements that is currently taking up considerable space in the public imagination.

From Slate

Related Words

• jumble