OVERWHELMED

Almost everyone knows what it is to be overwhelmed, that feeling you are surrounded by so much coming at you, surrounding you, that you cannot see an exit anywhere or help.

The opposite, underwhelmed, can sometimes be so underwhelming, the moment is missed altogether. The vast roar of an ocean that melts quickly into a bare ripple that wets your toes.

The first word has been around for a long while (14^th century), the second not so long—only appearing mid-20^th century.

While it is obvious both words are built on the base of “whelm”, you would hope not to discover that “whelm” is offered as a synonym for overwhelmed. I guess we English speakers were just not content be “whelmed,” but needed to make things very clear by creating the hyperbole “overwhelmed.”

Speaking of “whelm,” I do not believe I have ever heard this used in speech. Have you? Maybe it is dying out. By the way, it is related to the word “helmet.” If you are wearing a helmet, you are “whelmed” or covered. For the original meaning of the word is to cover. Therefore, covered dishes, like pheasant under glass for instance, are all whelmed.

But then it also meant to “overturn or upset.” So, if you were to go topsy-turvy, or end over end, you will be whelmed, too.

Assuming I have now both overwhelmed you with trivia and underwhelmed you in all other ways, I will end this essay.

#Englishlanguage #OverwhelmedUnderwhelmed