helm
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: hĕlm
ipa: /hɛlm/
rhymes: -ɛlm
Forms: form: helms
form: helming
form: helmed
form: helmed
form: no-table-tags
form: glossary
form: helm
form: helm
form: helmed
form: helm
form: helmest
form: helmed
form: helmedst
form: helms
form: helmeth
form: helmed
form: helm
form: helmed
form: helm
form: helmed
form: helm
form: -
form: helming
form: helmed
Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English helm, helme (“tiller of a ship”), from Old English helma (“helm, tiller”), from Proto-Germanic *helmô (“handle; helm, tiller”), either from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”) or from the same source as haulm and helm (“bentgrass, straw”) (see below), Proto-Indo-European *ḱélh₂-m(on)- (“reed, hollow stalk”), one form of which then developed a specialized meaning “handle” in Germanic.
The verb is derived from the noun.
Cognates
* German Holm (“beam”)
* Old Norse hjálm
Senses: examples: text: [A] wild wave in the wild North-sea, / […] overbears the bark, / And him that helms it, […]
ref: 1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Elaine”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 172:
text: For this light he steered, and soon he saw two tall pillars of flame blazing beside each other, with a narrow space of night between them. He helmed the ship towards these, and when he came near them they were like two mighty mountains of wood burning far into heaven, […]
ref: 1890, H[enry] Rider Haggard, Andrew Lang, “The Blood-red Sea”, in The World’s Desire, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, book I, page 41:
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: To control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel).
examples: text: Ile ſtriue to be nor great nor ſmale, / To liue nor die, fate helmeth all, / VVhen I can breath no longer, then, / Heauen take all, there put Amen.
ref: 1601 (date written), Iohn Marston [i.e., John Marston], What You Will, London: […] G[eorge] Eld, for Thomas Thorppe, published 1607, →OCLC, Act II, signature C3, verso:
text: The very ſtreame of his life, and the buſineſſe he hath helmed, muſt vppon a vvarranted neede, giue him a better proclamation.
ref: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 73, column 2:
text: But we hold / Thou art forsworn; and no forsworn Archbishop / Shall helm the Church.
ref: 1884, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Becket, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, page 66:
text: "I wanted to change the world, but I could not even change my underwear," sings John Grant at the piano, in a luxuriant baritone croon as thick and healthy as his beard. It’s hard to reconcile the guy who once struggled to so much as put on clean pants back in the bad old days – well-storied, not least through his own songs – with the one warmly and gracefully helming this complex, prestigious production – the penultimate date on a tour of packed concert halls, backed by an orchestra.
ref: 2014 December 1, Malcolm Jack, “John Grant with the Royal Northern Sinfonia review – positively spine-tingling”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2022:
text: But [Donald] Trump retains his iron grip on the Republican base, with the support of millions of loyal voters and allies still helming the Republican National Committee and many state party organizations.
ref: 2021 January 20, Jill Colvin, “Trump bids farewell to Washington, hints of comeback”, in AP News, archived from the original on 07 Oct 2022:
text: When Mattel initially approached Smith about helming this show, he was surprised.
ref: 2021 July 26, Lauren Sarner, “Kevin Smith on ‘Masters of the Universe’ and fan backlash”, in New York Post:
text: Helmed by chef Anton Mosimann, this is one of the most prestigious dining clubs in the world.
ref: 2023 August 23, Ellie Johnson, “Top prizes on offer at raffle for Railway Benefit Fund”, in RAIL, number 990, page 11:
glosses: To direct or lead (a project, etc.); to manage (an organization).
Derived terms: helmer