whele
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old English hwēol, from Proto-Germanic *hweulō, plural of *hwehwlą, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷékʷlos.
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʍeːl/, /ʍɛːl/
Noun
whele (plural wheles)
- A wheel (circular object designed to aid movement by attachment to a rod as allow it to turn)
- A device or machine that utilises the motion of a wheel to operate or the wheel in such a device (e.g. a waterwheel; a potter's wheel)
- A wheel utilised to induce torment; a wheel as a device for inflicting torture and pain.
- The wheel typically emblematic of change and changeableness.
- Any circular or spherical object or path; especially in astronomy.
- (rare) A revolving axis that a barrier depends on to move.
- (rare) The wheel representing repetition and constancy.
Related terms
References
- “whēl(e (n.(1))” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-05-06.
Etymology 2
From Old English *hwele; related to Old English hwelian.
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈʍɛːl(ə)/
Related terms
Descendants
- English: wheal
References
- “whēle (n.(2))” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-05-06.
Etymology 3
From whele (noun).
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