welter
/ˈweltə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɛltɚ] /ˈweltər/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɛltɚ] /ˈwel-tər How to pronounce welter (audio)/ (ame, mw)
welter — noun
1. a confused mixture or collection of many different things that are not arranged
a confused mixture or collection of many different things that are not arranged in any orderly way
The desk was buried under a welter of papers, books, and old receipts.
welter of [plural noun phrase]
From the archives emerged a welter of conflicting accounts about the incident.
The judge had to sort through a welter of legal documents before the trial.
The novel describes a welter of emotions experienced by a young soldier returning home.
用法筆記
Subject is nearly always singular and followed by the preposition 'of' plus a plural noun. The noun phrase after 'of' names the disorganised elements.
常見錯誤
welter — verb
- welterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- welters3rd person singular
- weltering-ing form
- welteredpast simple
1. to twist or roll the whole body around wildly, especially because of great pain,
to twist or roll the whole body around wildly, especially because of great pain, discomfort, or strong emotion
The injured dog weltered on the ground, whimpering softly.
welter + on [surface]
Nia weltered in her bed, unable to sleep because of the fever.
The snake weltered violently after being struck by the stick.
文法句型
welter + adverb/prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Almost exclusively found in literary or formal descriptive prose. The subject is a living creature, and the action implies struggle or distress, not playful movement.
2. to be lifted up and thrown down repeatedly by the movement of water, wind, or an
to be lifted up and thrown down repeatedly by the movement of water, wind, or another forceful element
The small boat weltered helplessly in the stormy sea.
welter + in [body of water]
Marco watched the buoy welter among the white-capped waves.
The wreckage weltered in the surf near the rocky shore.
- toss
far more common than welter; welter carries a more poetic and heavier feel
文法句型
welter + prepositional phrase (in/among)
3. to sink or lie deeply surrounded by something, so that it covers or encloses you
to sink or lie deeply surrounded by something, so that it covers or encloses you, or to become fully absorbed in a state or activity
After the heavy rain, the fields weltered in thick mud.
welter + in [physical substance]
Andrés weltered in guilt for weeks after the argument.
welter + in [abstract noun — emotion]
The old notebook weltered in dust on the forgotten shelf.
文法句型
welter + in + [noun]
用法筆記
When used with an abstract object (guilt, regret, debt), the sense overlaps with 'wallow'. The physical meaning ('sunk in mud') is the original historical sense.
4. to be in a state of great confusion, disorder, or emotional upheaval
to be in a state of great confusion, disorder, or emotional upheaval
The country weltered in political chaos after the disputed election.
welter + in [abstract noun — state of disorder]
His mind weltered with contradictory thoughts and painful memories.
Lauren weltered in despair after losing both her job and her home.
文法句型
welter + in + [abstract noun of state]