Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 1 wealwian, wealowian, -uwian, -owiʓan, 3–4 weolewe(n, welyhe, pa. pple. welud, walud, 3–5 welewe(n, welwe(n, 4–5 welowe, walow(e, welwye, wolwe, 5 wellow, walwyn, pa. pple. walluid, waleyt, 5– wallow. OE. wealwian, f. Teut. root *walχw-, *walγw-, whence wealʓ WALLOW a. The ME. we(o)lewe, etc., may represent a different ablaut-grade. Cf. WELK v., which may be remotely connected.] intr. To wither, fade; to waste away. lit. and fig. Often conjugated with be.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxi. On lencten hit grewð, & on hærfest hit wealwað.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1326. O þe steppes vmthoght he þan þat welud war for sin of man.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xv. 50. Such serewe hath myn sides thurhsoht, That al y weolewe a-way to noht.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xix. 6. The reed and the resshe shal welewen.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, VII. 477. Þis land wiþ his kyng … welwes away.
c. 1420. Wyntoun, Cron., I. Prol. 123. To þis my wit is wallowit dry, But fleure or froyte.
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, 216. The fayrenesse of the worlde was welwed wyth brennyng of thre fyres.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. Prol. 64. Herbis, flouris, and gersis wallowit away.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., I. 20. Now is he wallowit and waik as ony wand.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xv. 24. In earth, ȝe sweit flouris, tak na rute, But wallow altogidder!
a. 1699. Kirkton, Hist. Ch. Scot., VII. (1817), 269. Indeed after that day his flower begane to wallow.
a. 1792. Geordie, iii. in Child, Ballads, IV. 127/1. When first she lookd the letter on, She was baith red and rosy; But she had na read a word but twa, Till she wallowt like a lily.
Hence Wallowed ppl. a., withered, faded, discolored. Wallowing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 35. Al is, wið a welewunge [v.r. weolewunge], þi wlite ouer warpen.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11213. He þat þe walud wand moght ger In a night leif and fruit ber.
a. 1437. James I., Good Counsel, 11. Of grene gress sone cumis wallowit hay.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 256. Roses and flowres wythout welewyng.
1483. Cath. Angl., 413/2. Wellowynge, flactor, flactencia, Marcor; Marcessibilis, Marcibilis.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. viii. 11. With wallowit wyngis [L. fuscis alis].
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems, xiv. 16. How far þe rosy gowlis Passis the wallowit weidis in þe vaill.
1719. Hardyknute, I. 297, in Pinkerton, Sel. Sc. Ballads (1783), I. 13. In thrauis of dethe, wi wallow’d cheik,… The bleiding corps of warriours lay.
1843. Whistle-binkie, Ser. V. 117. Our dochters … Can thow the icy tags that hing About our wallow’t hearts.
