awhirl

English

Etymology

From a- +‎ whirl.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈwɜː(ɹ)l/, /əˈʍɜː(ɹ)l/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)l

Adjective

awhirl (comparative more awhirl, superlative most awhirl)

1. Whirling.
   • 1866, Christina Rossetti, The Prince’s Progress and Other Poems,‎^[1], London: Macmillan, page 104:

     […] did you think
     I was so fair when we played boy and girl,
     Where blue forget-me-nots bloomed on the brink
     Of our stream which the mill-wheel sent awhirl?

   • 1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, chapter 3, in The Worm Ouroboros‎^[2], London: Jonathan Cape, page 34:

     The music rippled and ran and the dancers danced till the hall was awhirl with the rhythm of their dancing,

   • 2013, Richard Flanagan, The Narrow Road to the Deep North‎^[3], London: Vintage Books, page 167:

     Dorrigo’s mind was awhirl with how he would get out of Warradale without permission, where he would find a vehicle, where they might secretly meet.