Hypertext Webster Gateway: "overwhelm"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Overwhelm \O`ver*whelm"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Overwhelmed}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Overwhelming}.]
1. To cover over completely, as by a great wave; to overflow
and bury beneath; to ingulf; hence, figuratively, to
immerse and bear down; to overpower; to crush; to bury; to
oppress, etc., overpoweringly.
The sea overwhelmed their enemies. --Ps. lxxviii.
53.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and
horror hath overwhelmed me. --Ps. lv. 5.
Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm
them. --Shak.
Gaza yet stands; but all her sons are fallen, All in
a moment overwhelmed and fallen. --Milton.
2. To project or impend over threateningly.
His louering brows o'erwhelming his fair sight.
--Shak.
3. To cause to surround, to cover. --Papin.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Overwhelm \O"ver*whelm`\, n.
The act of overwhelming. [R.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
overwhelm
v 1: overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli [syn: {overpower},
{sweep over}, {whelm}, {overcome}, {overtake}]
2: charge someone with too many tasks [syn: {deluge}, {flood
out}]
3: cover completely or make imperceptible; "I was drowned in
work"; "The noise drowned out her speech" [syn: {submerge},
{drown}]
4: overcome by superior force [syn: {overpower}, {overmaster}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.