Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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["a]lzen to welter, OHG. walzan to roll, Icel. velta, Dan. v[ae]lte, Sw. v["a]ltra, v["a]lta; cf. Goth. waltjan; probably akin to E. wallow, well, v. i. ????. See {Well}, v. 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\, v. t. [Cf. {Wilt}, v. i.] To wither; to wilt. [R.] Weltered hearts and blighted . . . memories. --I. Taylor.
\Wel"ter\, a. (Horse Racing) Of, pertaining to, or designating, the most heavily weighted race in a meeting; as, a welter race; the welter stakes.
\Wel"ter\, n. 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.