welter

Pronunciation: /ˈwɛltɚ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a confused multitude of things
  2. verb toss, roll, or rise and fall in an uncontrolled way
  3. verb roll around,

Etymology

From Middle English welteren, equivalent to welt + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognates include German Low German weltern (“to wallow; roll”), Old Norse velta (Danish vælte), German wälzen, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (waltjan). Akin to wallow and Latin volvō.

In classic literature

Synonyms

clutter, jumble, muddle, fuddle, mare's nest, smother

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
disorderliness
Narrower (hyponyms)
rummage

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