From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Welter \Wel"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Weltered; p. pr. & vb.
n. Weltering.] [Freq. of OE. walten to roll over, AS.
wealtan; akin to LG. weltern, G. walzen to roll, to waltz,
sich w[aum]lzen to welter, OHG. walzan to roll, Icel. velta,
Dan. v[ae]lte, Sw. v[aum]ltra, v[aum]lta; cf. Goth. waltjan;
probably akin to E. wallow, well, v. i. [root]146. See
Well, v. i., and cf. Waltz.]
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1. To roll, as the body of an animal; to tumble about,
especially in anything foul or defiling; to wallow.
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When we welter in pleasures and idleness, then we
eat and drink with drunkards. --Latimer.
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These wizards welter in wealth's waves. --Spenser.
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He must not float upon his watery bier
Unwept, and welter to the parching wind,
Without the meed of some melodious tear. --Milton.
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The priests at the altar . . . weltering in their
blood. --Landor.
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2. To rise and fall, as waves; to tumble over, as billows.
"The weltering waves." --Milton.
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Waves that, hardly weltering, die away.
--Wordsworth.
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Through this blindly weltering sea. --Trench.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Welter \Wel"ter\, v. t. [Cf. Wilt, v. i.]
To wither; to wilt. [R.]
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Weltered hearts and blighted . . . memories. --I.
Taylor.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Welter \Wel"ter\, a. (Horse Racing)
Of, pertaining to, or designating, the most heavily weighted
race in a meeting; as, a welter race; the welter stakes.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Welter \Wel"ter\, n.
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1. That in which any person or thing welters, or wallows;
filth; mire; slough.
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The foul welter of our so-called religious or other
controversies. --Carlyle.
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2. A rising or falling, as of waves; as, the welter of the
billows; the welter of a tempest.
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