Middle English Dictionary Entry
whelven v.
Entry Info
| Forms | whelven v. P. (early) welvede, hwelfde, (SW) ȝwelvede. |
| Etymology | OE hwilfan, hwylfan, -hwelfan (as in āhwelfan, var. of āhwylfan); cp. OI hvelfa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. overwhelven v., whelmen v., wholved ppl.
1.
(a) To invert (a contrivance and its occupants), turn upside down; ~ up-the-doun;
(b) to move (a stone) by rolling it over and over, roll into place [cp. welwen v.(2) (a)];
(c) to cover (sth.) over, bury;
(d) ~ over, to bring (sb.) to ruin [cp. overwhelven v. 1.(b)].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)460/138 : A luþur Man in gret power…liet maken of lim and ston a wonderliche deop put…A strong ȝwuchche of Ire he liet maken…Þare-inne he dude staleworþe Men þane prison for-to wite…A nyȝht cam þis holie man And þe ȝwuchche he fond þere; Sone he ȝweluede [Hrl: weluede] hire op þe doun and heom þat þare-inne were.
b
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)513 : He hwelfde at þare sepulchre-dure enne grete ston.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.393 : Ek whelue a seriol therout [L si seriola sub dio obruatur] that haue Grauel vp to the myddes.
d
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.161 : Sette not out thi londis faat or lene To hym whos lond adioyneth on thy rene, ffor harm & stryf of that vpon thy selue May rise, yhe, & perchaunce ouer thee whelue [vr. the overwhelve].