Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WHELM, v.t. [Sax. ahwylfan; Goth. hulyan; Ice. wilma or hwilma.]

1. To cover with water or other fluid; to cover by immersion in something that envelops on all sides; as, to whelm a person or a company in the seas; to whelm a caravan it sand or dust.
2. To cover completely; to immerse deeply; to overburden; as, to whelm one in sorrows.
3. To throw over so as to cover. [Not used.] – Mortimer.

WHELM'ED, pp.

Covered, as by being plunged or immersed.

WHELM'ING, ppr.

Covering, as by immersion.

WHELP, n. [Dan. hvalp; Sw. valp; D. welp. This word coincides in elements with wolf, L. vulpes.]

1. The young of the canine species, and of several other beasts of prey a puppy; a cub; as, a bear robbed of her whelps; lion's whelps.
2. A son; in contempt. – Shak.
3. A young man; in contempt. – Addison.

WHELP, v.t.

To bring forth young, as the female of the canine species and some other beasts of prey. – Doyle.

WHEN, adv. [Goth. hwan; Sax. hwænne; G. wann; D. wanneer; L. quando; Gaelic, cuinne.]

1. At the time. We were present when General La Fayette embarked at Havre for New York. – N.W.
2. At what time, interrogatively. When shall these things be? Matth. xxiv.
3. Which time. I was adopted heir by his consent; Since when, his oath is broke. – Shak.
4. After the time that. When the act is passed, the public will be satisfied.
5. At what time. Kings may / Take their advantage, when and how they list. – Daniel. When as, at the time when; what time. [Obs.] When as sacred light began to dawn. – Milton.

WHENCE, adv. [Sax. hwanon.]

1. From what place. Whence and what art thou? – Milton.
2. From what source. Whence shall we derive hope? Whence comes this honor? Whence hath this man this wisdom? – Matth. xiii.
3. From which premises, principles or facts. These facts or principles are admitted, whence it follows, that judgment must be entered for the plaintif.
4. How; by what way or means. Mark xii.
5. In general, from which person, cause, place, principle or circumstance. From whence may be considered as tautological, from being implied in whence; but the use is well authorized, and in some cases the use of it seems to give force or beauty to the phrase. We ascended the mountain, from whence we took a view of the beautiful plains below. Of whence, is not now used.

WHENCE-EV'ER, adv. [See WHENCESOEVER.]

WHENCE-SO-EVER, adv. [whence, so, and ever.]

From what place soever; from what cause or source soever. Any idea, whencesoever we have it. – Locke.

WHEN-EVER, adv. [when and ever.]

At whatever time. Whenever you come, you will be kindly received.

WHEN-SO-EVER, adv. [when, so, and ever.]

At what time soever; at whatever time. – Locke.

WHERE, adv. [Sax. hwær; Goth. hwar; Sw. hvar; D. waar.]

1. At which place or places. She visited the place where first she was so happy. Sidney. In all places where I record my name, I will come to thee and I will bless thee. Exod. xx.
2. At or in what place. Adam, where art thou? – Gen. iii.
3. At the place in which. Where I thought the remnant of my age / should have been cherish'd by her child-like duty. – Shak.
4. Whither; to what place or from what place. Where are you going? Where are you from? [These uses where are common, and the first can not be condemned as vulgar.] Any where, in any place. I sought the man, but could not find him any where. Note. Where seems to have been originally a noun, and was so used by Spenser. “He shall find no where safe to him.” In this sense, it is obsolete; yet it implies place, its original signification.

WHERE-A-BOUT', comp. [where and about.]

1. Near what place. Whereabout did you meet your friend?
2. Near which place. – Shak.
3. Concerning which. The object whereabout they are conversant. – Hooker.

WHERE-AS, comp. [s as z. where and as.]

1. When in fact or truth, implying opposition to something that precedes. Are not those found to be the greatest zealots, who are most notoriously ignorant? Whereas true zeal should always begin with true knowledge. – Sprat.
2. The thing being so that; considering that things are so; implying an admission of facts, sometimes followed by a different statement, and sometimes by inferences or something consequent, as in the law style, where a preamble introduces a law. Whereas wars are generally causes of poverty. – Bacon.
3. Whereat; at which place. [Obs.] – Spenser.
4. But on the contrary. [See No. 1.] – Woodward.

WHERE-AT', comp. [where and at.]

1. At which. Whereat he was no less angry and ashamed, than desirous to obey Zelmane. – Sidney.
2. At what, interrogatively. Whereat are you offended?

WHERE-BY', comp. [where and by.]

1. By which. You take my life, / When you do take the means whereby I live. – Shak.
2. By what, interrogatively. Whereby shall I know this? – Luke i.

WHERE'FORE, comp. [where and for.]

1. For which reason. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matth. vii.
2. Why; for what reason. Wherefore didst thou doubt? Matth. xiv.

WHERE-IN', comp. [where and in.]

1. In which; in which thing, time, respect, book, &c. This is the thing wherein you have erred.
2. In what. Yet ye say, wherein have we wearied him? – Mal. ii.

WHERE-IN-TO', comp. [where and into.]

Into which. [Obs.] – Bacon.

WHERE'NESS, n.

Ubiety; imperfect locality. A point hath no dimensions, but only a whereness, and is next to nothing. – Grew. [This word is not used, nor has it any intelligible signification.]

WHERE-OF, comp. [where and of.]

1. Of which. We are not guilty of the crime whereof we are accused.
2. Of what. Whereof was this house built? [Obs.] How this world, when and whereof created. – Milton.

WHERE-ON', comp. [where and on.]

1. On which; as, the ground whereon we tread.
2. On what. Whereon do we stand? [Obs.]

WHERE'SO, comp. [Obs. See Wheresoever.]

WHERE-SO-EV'ER, comp. [where, so, and ever.]

In what place soever; in whatever place, or in any place indefinitely. Seize the thief, wheresoever he may be found. Wherever is the preferable word.

WHERE'THROUGH, comp.

through which, is not in use.