Well adv. World English Historical Dictionary

Well adv. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1928, rev. 2024. Well adv. Forms: α. 1–7 wel (1 uel, 3 wuel, wel), 1, 5– well (2 wæll, 5 whell), 5 welle. β. 4–5 (8–9 Sc. and north.) weel, 4 wiel, Sc. 5 veill, 5–6 weill, 6 wyell, 7 weell (weall); 4–5, 7 (6 Sc.) wele, 5 weile, Sc. veyle, 6 weele. γ. (Chiefly north.) 4–5 will (5–6 wyll), 5 wil, 5–6 wyl; 4 wille, 5 wile, wyle, wylle. See also WOL adv. [Common Teutonic: OE. wel, well = OFris. wel (NFris. wel, well, WFris. wel, wol), MDu. and Du. wel, OS. wel, ON. and Icel. vel (Norw., Da. vel, Sw. väl); also OS. wela, wola (MLG. and LG. wala, wal), OHG. wela, wala, wola, wol (MHG. wole, wol, G. wohl), Goth. waila. The stem is regarded as identical with that of the verb WILL.

1   An early lengthening of the vowel is indicated by the ME. weel (wiel, wele, etc.), which appears in northern and Scottish texts from the 14th cent., and is still the current form in Scottish, northern, and north midland dialects. The forms will and WOL probably originated in unstressed positions.]

2   I.  1. In accordance with a good or high standard of conduct or morality; in a way that is morally good. Chiefly with do vb.

3 c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, xxxv. 4. [He] nalde onʓeotan ðæt [he] wel dyde [L. bene ageret].

4 a. 1000.  Doomsday, 119. Welan ah in wuldre se nu wel þenceð!

5 a. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xii. 12. Hyt ys alyfed on reste-daʓum wel to donne [L. bene facere].

6 a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud), an. 1086. Litel rihtwisnesse wæs on þisum lande … buton mid munecan ane þær þær hi wæll ferdon.

7 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 131. Ðe mon þe wel deð, he wel ifehð.

8 a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 37. Ne scal na mon … slawen wel to done.

9 c. 1300.  Relig. Songs, i. in Owl & Night., etc. (Percy Soc.), 63. Mon, let sunne and Iustes thine; Wel thu do and wel thu thench.

10 c. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 288. He says he has no wille to fele Ne to understand for to do wele. Ibid., 1987. Þe last day of man is hyd,… For he shuld kepe wele al þe other dayes.

11 c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet, vii. 12. For þi lokys þat ye do wel.

12 c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., 1. Þerfore gouerne the wele the while til I come home aȝen.

13 c. 1481.  Caxton, Dialogues, 47. Qui bien fera bien aura, Who doth well shall well haue.

14 1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 21. Doo well, and haue well, men say.

15 a. 1591.  H. Smith, Serm. (1601), 299. It is better to doe well then to doe good: for a man cannot offend in doing well.

16 1663.  S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr. (1687), 355. Let me see a Man that keeps his shop and buys and sells, and yet lives well and keeps the Laws of Christ.

17 a. 1703.  Burkitt, On N. T., Mark x. 17. It is not talking well, and professing well, but doing well, that entitles us to heaven and eternal life.

18 1805.  Wordsw., Prelude, VIII. 527. That, by acting well, And understanding, I should learn to love The end of life.

19 1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 606. If thou livest well and teachest well, thou wilt be a judge of all; if thou teachest well and livest ill, thine own only.

20   b.  Satisfactorily in respect of conduct or action.

21 a. 1000.  Riddles, l[i]. 5. He him wel hereð, þeowaþ him ʓeþwære.

22 c. 1325.  Spec. Gy Warw., 82. Wisdom in godes drede Vse wel, þat be my rede.

23 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 968. And they him sworen his axyng faire and weel.

24 c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 4838. To loue god & serue hym wyle.

25 1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 65. Deuoute redyng … causeth moche grace and comforte to the soulle yf yt be well and dyscretely vsed.

26 1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 60. The same Archas gouerned hym so wele and so wisely that [etc.].

27 1526.  Tindale, 1 Tim. v. 17. The seniours that rule wele are worthy of double honoure.

28 1534.  Cal. Irish Chancery Rolls, I. 11. Ye swear that ye well and trulie shall serve our Sovraigne Lord the King.

29 1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 349. If any charge do come vpon the king and his realme, howe it may be well and honourably supported.

30 1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 212, ¶ 4. A Woman must think well to look well.

31 1881.  Med. Temp. Jrnl., XLIX. 13. He there worked well and never touched alcohol.

32 1883.  Whitelaw, Sophocles, Antigone, 1323. ’Tis counselled well, if well with ill can be.

33   † c.  Justifiably, rightly. Obs.–1

34 1382.  Wyclif, Jonah iv. 4. And the Lord saide, Gessist thou, wher thou art wel [L. bene] wroth? Ibid., 9.

35   2.  In such a manner as to constitute good treatment or confer a benefit; kindly, considerately; generously; charitably.

36 c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, cxx[i]v. 4. Wel doa [L. bene fac], dryhten, godum & rehtum on heortan.

37 c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xli. 304. Far mid us, ðæt we ðe mæʓen wel don.

38 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. v. 44. Doð wel þam þe eow yfel doð.

39 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 59. Þene Mon he lufede and welbiþohte.

40 1424.  E. E. Wills, 57. No man merueil þogh I do well to him, for, [etc.].

41 1540.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 270. Your grace was veray moch displeasyd Saying I am not well handelyd.

42 1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Bene, To be well vsed for little coste.

43 1712.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 11 Oct. Opportunities will often fall in my way, if I am used well.

44 1896.  Gladstone, in Daily Chron., 8 Oct. (1903), 5/2. My danger is the danger of being too well used … by my biographers.

45   b.  To deserve well of: to be entitled to gratitude or good treatment from (a person). See DESERVE 3 b. Cf. L. bene mereri de, F. bien mériter de.

46 1585–6.  Earl Leycester, Corr. (Camden), 423. He can tell you whether I dyd use Paul Buis, and deservyd well at his handes, or no.

47 1709.  Addison, Tatler, No. 117, ¶ 1. A great Man, who has deserved well of his Country.

48 1709–1840.  [see DESERVE v. 3].

49 1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. ii. You do right, child,… to speak well of those who deserve well of you.

50   c.  With verbs of greeting, receiving, etc.: In a kindly and friendly manner; with friendly words; with favor or welcome.

51   Cf. to stand well with, s.v. WELL a. 2.

52 c. 1000.  in Kemble, Cod. Diplom., IV. 214. Eadward king gret wel Willem biscop.

53 a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud), an. 675. Ic Agatho … grete wel seo wurðfulle Æðelred. Ibid., an. 1137. He for to Romne & þær wæs wæl underfangen fram þe pape.

54 c. 1205.  Lay., 15084. Uortigerne … grette wel Hengest.

55 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1420. Laban and his moder … fagneden wel ðis sondere man.

56 c. 1325.  Spec. Gy Warw., 52. [I] grete þe wel, fadyr myn.

57 1443.  Hen. VI., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 79. Right dere in God we grete you wele.

58 1483.  Rich. III., Ibid., Ser. II. I. 159. Right reverend Fadre in God, right trusty and welbeloved, we grete you wele.

59 1706.  trans. De Piles’ Art Painting, 336. He was well receiv’d at Court, and in favour with Four Kings successively.

60 1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, v. You receive him very well considering you do not like him?

61   d.  With verbs denoting feeling or intention.

62 1659.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), IV. 87. Not as intending well to the King, for they are vowed rebells.

63 1661.  J. Barwick, in Extr. S. P. rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 128. A Gentleman that wishes well to the King.

64 1729.  T. Innes, Crit. Ess. (1879), 17. At least I meant well, and aimed only at truth.

65 1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., iv. I am an Englishman, and wish dearly well to my country.

66 1836.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Shops & Tenants. We wished the man well, but we trembled for his success.

67 1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xxv. There is a great difference between wishing well to a cause and supporting it in person.

68   e.  With verbs of thinking or speaking († also of hearing) of a person, etc.

69 1445.  trans. Claudian, in Anglia, XXVIII. 269. Easyly with the thus thi men live, thou seith of hem evir wele.

70 c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, III. xxxiii. 102. Wheþer þei say wel, wheþer þei say evel, þou art not þerfore a noþer man.

71 1526.  Tindale, 1 Tim. v. 10. Soche a wone as was … well reported off in good workes.

72 1538.  Elyot, Dict., Add., Bene audire, to be well spoken of.

73 1576.  R. Peterson, G. della Casa’s Galateo, 22. Eache man desireth to bee well thought of.

74 1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax, Answ. Let. A iv b. If you haue heard so well of my poore house.

75 1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 37. Signior Baptista, of whom I heare so well. Ibid. (1610), Temp., II. ii. 95. His forward voyce now is to speake well of his friend.

76 1698.  M. Henry, Christianity no Sect (1847), 199. Ill-will never speaks well.

77 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. xlviii. 388. One would be willing to be well thought of by the worthy.

78 1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xliii. Papa thinks well of Mrs. Pipchin.

79 1865.  [see 2 b].

80 1895.  Bookman, Oct., 12/2. ‘The Ebb Tide’ was practically by Mr. Stevenson himself, and he was disposed to think very well of it.

81   f.  With equanimity or good nature; without resentment. Chiefly with take.

82   † To take (a thing) well a worth: see WORTH sb.

83 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, III. x. 133. They did not suffer her to go out of her chamber; which she took not well.

84 1923.  R. A. Freeman, Dr. Thorndike’s Case-Bk., i. 31. ‘And how did the coloured gentleman take it?’ ‘Not very well.’

85   3.  With courage and spirit; gallantly, bravely.

86 1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 24. So many douhty dyntes was bituex tham tueye, Wele þei did togidere, better may noman seye.

87 1447.  Shillingford, Lett. (Camden), 20. Douryssh acquytted hym well.

88 c. 1450.  Merlin, vi. 97. Alle the barouns that weren of valoure and wele hadde don. Ibid., xxxii. 654. Sir Gawein and his felowes dide merveiles and wele.

89 1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., I. i. 134. Hee that escapes me without some broken limbe, shall acquit him well.

90 1667.  Milton, P. L., VI. 29. Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought The better fight.

91 1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxi. Well and chivalrous did De Bracy that day maintain the fame he had acquired.

92   II.  4. Faithfully, heedfully, carefully, attentively: a. With verbs of holding, keeping, attending to, etc.

93 c. 831.  in Sweet, O. E. Texts, 446. Ic … bebiade Eadwealde … ðet he ðis wel healde.

94 a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 1236. Þreo tacen … þæs þe hi hyra þeodnes wel wordum and weorcum willan heoldon.

95 971.  Blickl. Hom., 109. Hit is … nytlic þæt hie heora fulwiht-hadas wel ʓehealdan.

96 c. 1200.  Ormin, 1033. Þatt follkess haliȝdomess … wærenn inn an arrke þær Wel & wurrþlike ȝemmde.

97 c. 1300.  Havelok, 209. And preide, he shulde yeme hire wel.

98 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6849. Haldes þis wille [Gött. wele], i bid yow now. Ibid. (c. 1375), 438 (Fairf.). He gaf an mast of al þat wele hif he coude a keppet hit weel.

99 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 118. Ȝe suld … Haiff chosyn ȝow a king, that mycht Have haldyn veyle the land in rycht.

100 1433.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 477/1. And well and truly kepe the seid godes.

101 1482.  Cely Papers (Camden), 124. I hawhe promysyd hym a bow and I trwste that he wyll se whell to yowr hors.

102 1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 130. To cart gap and barne, set a guide to looke weele.

103 1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. 53. Touchyng seede, this is to be well seen to.

104 1611.  Bible, Jer. xxxix. 12. Take him and looke well to him, and doe him no harme.

105 1781.  Burns, Til go & be a Sodger, 6. I gat some gear wi’ meikle care, I held it weel thegither.

106   b.  With verbs of observing, considering, studying, etc.

107 971.  Blickl. Hom., 203. Mid þy þe þa Cristenan leode þæt wel sceawodan, ða ʓesawon hie [etc.].

108 c. 1200.  Ormin, 1829. Wel birrþ uss lokenn þær whatt uss Þatt name maȝȝ bitacnenn.

109 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 202. And gyff ony thar-at war wrath, Thai watyt hym wele with gret scaith.

110 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W. (Fairf.), 335. Of thyn answere avise the ryght weel.

111 c. 1400.  Rule of St. Benet (Prose), 11. And tat ye recorde wel þe cumantemens of god.

112 1436.  Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 191. Loke wele aboute,… Unfayllyngly, unfeynynge, and unfeynte.

113 1513.  Bradshaw, St. Werburge, 1338. She well consydered with due dyscrecyon Of this present lyfe the great wretchydnesse.

114 a. 1529.  Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, iii. 97. Note and marke wyl thys parcele.

115 1538.  Starkey, England, 117. Me thynke you pondur not al wel and depely.

116 1603.  Harsnet, Popish Impost., 36. Heere is her lesson read ouer: and marke the scholler how well she conned it.

117 1611.  Bible, Prov. xiv. 15. The prudent man looketh well to his going.

118 1746.  Francis, trans. Hor., Epist., I. vii. 117. Philip, who well observ’d our simple Guest, Laughs in his Sleeve.

119 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 610. Feversham … had looked at himself well in the glass.

120 1873.  Punch, 4 Jan., 9/2. After thinking the matter well over, we have determined not to compete.

121   5.  In a way appropriate to the facts or circumstances; fittingly, properly: a. With verbs of saying or speaking. † Also rarely in other contexts (quot. c. 1175).

122 c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxi. 151. Be ðære ildinge suiðe wel Dryhten ðreade Iudeas, ða he ðurh ðone witʓan cuæð.

123 a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 547. Ðæt is wel cweden swa ʓewritu secgað, þæt [etc.].

124 c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John iv. 17. Cueð to hir se hælend, uel ðu cuede þætte ic ne hafu uer.

125 971.  Blickl. Hom., 9. Wel þæt wæs ʓecweden, forþon þe [etc.].

126 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 83. He com bi þis forwundede mon. Wel he com bi him, þa he bicom alswich alse he.

127 13[?].  K. Alis., 3097. Þou hast wel spoken, Dalmadas.

128 1340.  Ayenb., 19. Zuych folie is wel y-clepede onwythede.

129 1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xv. 7. Ysay, the prophete, propheciede wel of ȝou.

130 c. 1440.  Generydes, 1835. Whanne the Sowdon had hard hym sey so will, ‘Generydes,’ quod he, ‘I geue yow grace.’

131 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, X. xxxvi. 471. This is wel sayd, saide Morgan le fay.

132 1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtier, I. (1900), 94. And you say wel, that [etc.].

133 1590.  Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., V. i. Wel said, let there be a fire presently.

134 1610.  Donne, Pseudo-Martyr, 170. Sepulueda, whom I cited before, saies well to this purpose; That the soule doth exercise, Herile Imperium vpon the body.

135 1638.  Junius, Paint. Ancients, 7. It is well observed by an ancient Orator [etc.].

136 1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. ii. § 1. If so, as Maimonides well observes, the whole Religion of Moses is overthrown.

137 1725.  Pope, Odyss., VIII. 153. Well hast thou spoke (Euryalus replies).

138 1779.  Mirror, No. 37, ¶ 8. The delightful occupations of a country life, which Cicero well said … are next in kindred to true philosophy.

139 1809.  Roland, Fencing, 119. It was well suggested … that it would be better [etc.].

140 1855.  Paley, Æschylus (1861), Pref. p. vi. note. Hermann himself well says of certain critics of the old school [etc.].

141 1883.  Whitelaw, Sophocles, Electra, 252. If I speak not well Have thou thy way.

142   b.  With verbs expressing fitness, suitability, etc.

143 a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 3. Wel þe ʓeriseð, þæt þu heafod sie healle mærre.

144 971.  Blickl. Hom., 13. Wel þæt ʓeras þæt heo wære eaðmod. Ibid. Wel þæt eac ʓedafenaþ þæt he to eorðan astiʓe.

145 c. 1050.  O. E. Chron. (MS. C.), an. 1036. Syððan hine man byriʓde, swa him wel ʓebyrede, ful wurðlice, swa he wyrðe wæs.

146 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 11914. Nys non on lyue … Þat semeþ so wel his beryng.

147 13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 793. Wlonk whit was her wede, & wel hit hem semed.

148 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 394. And in spek wlispyt he sum deill; Bot that sat him rycht wonder weill.

149 a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 170. Sone the senatour was sett, as hyme wel semyde, At the kyngez ownne borde.

150 1502.  Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. xxxiv. (1893), 223. It acordeth nat to well to my hert.

151 1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VII. Prol. 165. As our buik begouth his weirfair tell, So, weill according, dewlie bene annext Thow drery preambill.

152 1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., Induct. i. 126. An Onion wil do well for such a shift. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., IV. ii. 4. It would doe well to set the Deares horns vpon his head.

153 1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 167. I haue inlarged my selfe in speaking more already, then may well become mee.

154 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. xxiv. 185. She is dissatisfied with what she has written: But I tell her, I think it will do very well.

155 1832.  G. R. Porter, Porcelain & Gl., 274. Almost any … inflammable vegetable matter will probably answer equally well.

156 1848.  T. Aird, Chr. Bride, II. i. Yea, well that forehead’s beauty undebased Beseems the scion of a prince’s side.

157   c.  To do well: to act prudently or sensibly. Also ironically.

158 1476.  Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 12. Ye do Ryghte welle to set hyt in a suerete.

159 c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, vii. 176. Ye have well doon, swete knyghte, for to have brought your horse here.

160 c. 1530.  Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Brit. (1814), 535. It were well done that I sholde cause be armed v. hondred knightes.

161 1576.  Turberv., Venerie, 192. The Huntsman … shall do well to stop up his earthes if he can finde them.

162 1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 53. You shall doe well to put in some few Slices of Eryngium Roots.

163 1663.  Gerbier, Counsel, 22. Roomes on moist grounds, do well to be Paved with Marble.

164 1673.  Dryden, Amboyna, III. i. He do’s well to take his time.

165 1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 180. Whoever shall follow the same, or a like track,… will do well to make a year of it.

166 1771.  Smollett, Humphry Cl. (3rd) 14 June. You will do well to keep a watchful eye over … Villiams.

167 1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., ix. Lord Bittlebrains would do weel to remember what his folk have been.

168 1856.  Mrs. Oliphant, Magd. Hepburn, I. 275. ‘Boy, thou dost well to beard me,’ cried Sir Roger.

169 1884.  Chr. Commw., 1 May, 688/3. Clergymen who have nothing better to do than incite to war would do well to seek some other calling.

170   6.  Prosperously, successfully, fortunately, happily; without harm or accident. (Cf. 11.) Freq. with do, fare, go.

171   To be well rid of: cf. RID v. 3 c.

172 Beowulf, 1045. Beowulfe … eoder Ingwina onwald ʓeteah wicga and wæpna; het hine wel brucan. Ibid., 2162. Bruc ealles well.

173 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xxxix. 2. Drihten wæs mid him; se man wæs wel donde on eallum þingum.

174 c. 1300.  Havelok, 2983. Him stondes wel þat god child strenes.

175 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. xxiv. 404. Well worth you all thre, most doughty in dede!

176 1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. xx. 7. Yf he saye then: It is good, then stondeth it well with thy seruant. Ibid., 2 Kings iv. 26. Axe her yf it go well with her.

177 1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, III. iii. P j. All hayle moche .i. god sende the well to fare.

178 1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, P. Giles (1895), p. c, Thus … I byd you moste hartely well to fare.

179 1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 48. Too lustie of courage for wheat doth not well.

180 1607.  Shaks., Cor., IV. i. 21. Farewell my Wife,… Ile do well yet.

181 1611.  Bible, 2 Chron. xii. 12. Also in Iudah things went well.

182 16[?].  Sir W. Mure, Ps. xxxvii. 7. And fret not that his wayes go weell, Leud plotts to passe who brings.

183 1631.  Shirley, Sch. Cowpl., V. i. 68. Woo’d I were well rid of you.

184 1665.  in Spalding Club Misc., I. 40. I am werie confident … that the bussiness of our familie shall goe weall.

185 1712–3.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 17 Jan. This took well, and turned off the discourse.

186 a. 1718.  Prior, Epitaph, 5. If Human Things went Ill or Well.

187 1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 275. The gooseberry … and the common nightshade … succeed equally well.

188 1899.  Hugh E. M. Stutfield, in Blackw. Mag., March, 552/2. All went well as far as the foot of the ice-fall.

189   b.  With verbs of going, bringing, getting, etc., and adverbial complement.

190 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5024. Ledes wit yow beniamin, Godd giue yow þedir will [Fairf. wele] to wine.

191 c. 1470.  Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 110. God ȝeve yow goode nyghte and brynge yow welle home and in schorte tyme.

192 1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Bene, Good speede the, and send the well to returne. Ibid., s.v. Ceres, To call and praie to god to send well in our corne.

193 1636.  Sanderson, Serm. Ad Aulam, iv. (1689), 415. So he came well off at the last, though he was dangerously engaged onward.

194 1708.  S. Sewall, Diary, 13 Dec. Got home well in my slay, had much adoe to avoid slews.

195 1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1768), VIII. 184. God send him well out of the kingdom!

196 1748.  Smollett, R. Random, ix. We proceeded on our journey, blessing ourselves that we had come off so well.

197 1822.  Scott, Nigel, xv. I wish you weel through, my lord, but it is an unequal fight.

198 1852.  E. Warburton, Darien, I. xiii. (1860), 110. His regard for what was left of his reputation concurred with his greed of gold in wishing his guest well away.

199 1860.  Sala, Badd. Peerage, I. xviii. 307. However, I’m well out of it, I don’t mean Newgate, but my Spanish courtship.

200 1876.  H. Brooks, Natal, 199. After he had got well off from the tribes in the old neighbourhood.

201   c.  Successfully in some material respect; profitably; advantageously.

202 c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 245. To be had and to be hold … frely quyetly … wele and in pease.

203 1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. ii. 208. What a father doth to marie his daughter wel, is to give her a great portion in mariage.

204 1673.  Janeway, Heaven upon Earth (1847), 79. Consider … before you make light of this business, and know when you are well offered.

205 1729.  T. Cooke, Tales, etc., 102. Monimia wrong’d the tender Soul shall move, And Anthony well lose the World for Love.

206 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. xxx. 236. Will four thousand pounds be well laid out in a quarter-partnership?

207 1863.  W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, vii. 231. I sold all my oxen well in Bloemfontein (flower fountain).

208 1864.  Trollope, Small Ho. Allington, xxvi. ‘Amelia has done very well [in her marriage], my dear.’ ‘Oh, if you call it doing well for your girls, I don’t.’

209 a. 1865.  Mrs. Gaskell, Wives & Dau., xxxii. Mamma … always says you have done very well for yourself [in marriage].

210   † d.  spec. Profitably for the seller or buyer; at a high or low price respectively. Obs.

211 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxviii. (Margaret), 6. And for þere prophetis thre we se it [the pearl] oft weile bocht be.

212 1480, 1576.  [see WELL-BOUGHT].

213 1599.  Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 59. They are exceeding fat [geese] & wel sold [L. optimi feri].

214   7.  a. In a state of plenty or comfort. See also LIVE v.1 4 d.

215 c. 1000.  Ælfric’s Colloq., in Wright, Voc. (1857). Ʒe maʓon … butan minon cræfte lif adreoʓan, ac na lancge ne to wel [L. adeo bene].

216 1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 106. Þanne ferde þe worlde as a feld þat ful were or bestes, Whan eueri lud liche wel lyuede up-on erþe.

217 1874.  Dasent, Tales fr. Fjeld, 302. He would be able to live well and good all his days.

218   b.  Satisfactorily or excellently in respect of health or recovery from illness. Usually with do.

219 c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 251. A bruther of his askid hym how he did, and he said, wele.

220 a. 1478.  Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 29. I trust to God þat he sal doo ryght weile, and so doth þe fessechane.

221 1530.  Palsgr., 524/1. I do well: ic me porte bien.

222 1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., II. iv. 40. How doth the Prince? Mes. Well Madam, and in health. Ibid., III. i. 96. How fares our Noble Brother? Yorke. Well, my deare Lord.

223 1611.  Bible, John xi. 12. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleepe, he shall doe well.

224 1711–2.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 17 March. Mrs. Percival’s youngest daughter has got the small-pox, but will do well.

225 1841.  H. Greville, Diary, Ser. I. (1883), 152. A fine child, and the Queen doing well.

226 1863.  Longf., in Life (1891), III. 25. Bowditch is wounded through the arm; C. through both shoulders…. Both doing well.

227   8.  With good reason; naturally; as a natural result or consequence.

228 c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. i. (Schipper), 110. Cwæð he: Wel þæt swa mæʓ, forþon hi englelice ansyne habbað.

229 c. 1205.  Lay., 983. Wel ich hit mai suggen, to soþe ich hit wene.

230 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 26. Siþ lordis and men of grete statis … ben so muche biholden to destroie it, & mowne welle don it in dede.

231 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 183. Men … wel it calle may The daisie, or elles the ye of day.

232 1423.  James I., Kingis Q., xiv. Wist thou thy payne to cum … For sorow and drede wele myght thou wepe and waille.

233 1485.  Caxton, Malory’s Arthur, Pref. 2. In hym … myght wel be aretted grete folye and blyndenesse.

234 1508.  Dunbar, Goldyn Targe, 279. Rude is thy wede,… Wele aucht thou be afiret of the licht.

235 1578.  T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, 60. Alleagyng … that he who had common 2000 leagues by Sea, mought well goe 70 leagues by lande.

236 1678.  B. R., Lett. Popish Friends, 3. Well may our Irish Friends, cry Oh hone! Oh hone!

237 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. x. 70. What! are you confounded?—Well you may, if you cannot answer me as I wish!

238 1791.  Cowper, Iliad, I. 319. Now Priam and his sons may well exult.

239 1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xliv. Ye could hardly weel be said to breakfast this morning.

240 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 368. The government did not venture … to enforce a regulation of which the legality might well be questioned.

241 1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 5. Another might well have said of him what he … said of his famous contemporary.

242 1902.  ‘Violet Jacob,’ Sheep-Stealers, viii. ‘How do you get it all up to Abergavenny?’ ‘Ah, you may well ask.’

243   b.  In clauses introduced by and or as.

244 a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl., 632. Þe children awoke þo anon … Sore hi beoþ offerd and wel maȝe.

245 1563–83.  Foxe, A. & M., 192/1. With thys vncomely outrage the King was much displeased (as he myght full well).

246 1650.  Eliz. Cromwell, Lett., 27 Dec., in Carlyle. Which makes me think my writing is slighted; as well it may.

247 1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 785. Back to the Thicket slunk The guiltie Serpent, and well might.

248 a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 5 May 1686. Which dispensation … gave umbrage (as well it might) to every good Protestant.

249 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, III. viii. 119. The dear creature … took pride, as well she might, in her hair.

250 1852.  Gladstone, Glean. (1879), IV. 81. The capital was in amazement at the boldness of the Judges; and well it might.

251 1871.  ‘Mark Twain,’ Eye-Openers, 87. All the high houses about that distance away were full, windows, roof, and all. And well they might be, for all the falling stars and Fourth-of-July fireworks [etc.].

252   c.  In concessive sense: Indeed, certainly. † How well (after F. combien que), although.

253 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, III. xiii. 116. Alas syr, sayd the lady … I must nedes reste me. Ye shal wel, said kyng Pellinore.

254 1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 93. I haue not Intencion for to obeye his comandement how well that he is my fader. Ibid. (1474), Chesse, I. iii. (1883), 15. How well that the lyon be the strengest beste, yet somtyme a lityll birde eteth hym. Ibid., II. iv. 47. How well he was kynge by right.

255 1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xiv. 15. They do labour & til the ground, how wel there groweth no corne…. But well there groweth certaine other graine and hearbes of small estimation.

256 1589.  Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, I. i. (Arb.), 19. Who … may well be sayd a versifier, but not a Poet.

257 1634.  Milton, Comus, 211. These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The vertuous mind.

258   9.  Without difficulty or hindrance; readily, easily.

259 c. 1000.  Canons of Ælfric, vii. in Thorpe, Laws, II. 346. Hy mihton þa wel habban wif on þam daʓum.

260 1154.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1137. Wel þu myhtes faren all a dæis fare, sculdest thu neure finden man in tune sittende.

261 c. 1250.  Prayer to Virgin, 19, in O. E. Misc., 196. Helpe þruh þin milde mod for wel þu mist [rhyme liht].

262 13[?].  Cursor M., 20116 (Edin.). Alle þa leuedis þate þare wern, Ful wel þai miȝtin hir forberne.

263 a. 1352.  Minot, Poems, i. 36. Þat lord of heuyn mot Edward lede And maintene him als he wele may.

264 c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxv. 114. Þai may wele hafe swilk clathes, for þai er of lesse prys þare þan wollen clathez er here.

265 c. 1420.  Sir Amadace (Camden), xxxix. For he that schope bothe sunne and mone, Fulle wele may pay for alle!

266 c. 1450.  Cursor M., 19059 (Laud). Thow maiste wele se now our wone Yeftes haue we to the non.

267 1481.  Caxton, Myrr., I. xiii. 41. Who that myght haue the parfayt scyence therof, he myght wel knowe how the world was compassed.

268 1551.  R. Robynson, More’s Utopia (1895), 53. All their housholde stuffe, whiche is verye lytle worth, though it myght well abyde the sale.

269 1803.  Med. Jrnl., X. 203. With respect to this query,… I cannot so well answer.

270 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 16. Nor were the refugees such as a country can well spare.

271 1828.  [Sir G. C. Lewis], trans. Boeckh’s Publ. Econ. Athens, I. 318. These ambassadors remained absent three months, although they might have equally well returned at the end of one.

272   b.  Used to denote the possibility or likelihood of an occurrence or fact.

273 a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1788. So may the wynde weile turnne, I quytte hym or ewyne.

274 1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, III. iii. He that is … atte vpperest of the whole of fortune, may wel falle doune.

275 a. 1547.  Surrey, Æneis, II. 373. This right hand well mought have ben her defense.

276 1618.  W. Lawson, New Orchard & Gard. (1623), 7. The chilling cold may well some little time stay, or hinder the proud course of the sap.

277 1620.  Quarles, Feast for Worms, xi. I j. Was not this my Word,… When this mis-hap mought well haue bin escaped?

278 1680.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., x. 178. Though no size for the heighth of the Puppets can be well asserted.

279 1709.  Berkeley, Ess. Vision, § 144. A little consideration will show us how this may well be.

280 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, I. xii. 66. That a learned man and a linguist may very well be two persons.

281 1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 188. This was as strong a case as could well come before the Court.

282 1874.  Scrivener, Lect. Text N. T., 5. No transcript … can well be found which does not differ from its prototype in some small points.

283 1887.  ‘L. Carroll,’ Game of Logic, i. 10. I grant you they couldn’t well be fewer. Ibid., 35. Your Premisses … are as fallacious as they can well be!

284   c.  In negative or comparative clauses.

285 1523.  Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 35. I can not wele tell you what was the occasyon.

286 1569.  J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 31 b. The thinge seemed graver unto him then that he mighte well speake of it.

287 1609.  Bible (Douay), 4 Kings xxv. Comm., There was so exceding much, that they wel could not, or did not weigh it.

288 1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 173. The Base striketh more Aire, than it can well strike equally.

289 1642.  Tasman’s Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1694), 135. The Wind would not well suffer them to go to the Northward.

290 1686.  [Allix], Dissert., i. in W. Hopkins, Ratramnus’ Body & Bl. (1688), 7. His Answer … could not be well written before the Year 868.

291 1711.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 27 April. I see not how they can well want him…, and he would make a troublesome enemy.

292 1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ., II. 14 (Passport, Paris), By the time La Fleur had well told me, the master of the hotel came … to tell me the same thing.

293 1827.  Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. vii. Before Vivian could well finish his sentence.

294 1881.  Jowett, Thucyd., I. 192. He can praise a sharp remark before it is well out of another’s mouth.

295 1898.  ‘Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xiii. 135. Appearing to know more of that abode of evil than she well could.

296   † d.  At least, assuredly. Obs.

297 1825.  Scott, Betrothed, xxi. Surely, if I am willing to confer such confidence, it is well thy part to answer it.

298   10.  To all appearance; by good evidence.

299 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17900. Þenne coom a mon … þat semed wel to haue ben eremyte.

300 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 369. Wel semed eche of hem a fair burgeys.

301 1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 237. That yt appere wel that she ys hys mother.

302 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VI. vii. 192. Thou semest wel to be a good knyght.

303   b.  With acute reasoning; shrewdly.

304 c. 1450.  Merlin, ii. 25. When thei herde these words, [they] supposed wele what he ment.

305 1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xciv. 116. They supposed well before that the Kyng of Englande wolde come into Bretayne.

306 a. 1687.  Cotton, Angler’s Ballad, ii. Poems (1689), 76. And full well you may think, If you troll with a Pink, One too weak will be apt to miscarry.

307   III.  11. Effectively; successfully as regards result or progress.

308 Beowulf, 2570. Scyld wel ʓebearʓ life and lice læssan hwile … þonne his myne sohte.

309 c. 888.  Ælfred, Boethius, xli. § 4. Swiðe wel þu min hæfst ʓeholpen æt þære spræce.

310 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 39. Þe childre þewuen wuel.

311 c. 1205.  Lay., 23121. For ich hine wulle in Norwæȝe neowe king makien and hine wel lere to witeȝen wel þa leoden.

312 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 322. I sal helpe þe wondire veill.

313 c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 1911. But the oynement halpe me wele.

314 c. 1450.  Lovelich, Grail, xiii. 270. Scheldes & hawberkis al to-broke, So wel they gonne there hem beweld.

315 1821.  Southey, Lett. (1856), III. 262. The printer gets on well with my History.

316   12.  In a manner, or to an extent, approaching thoroughness or completeness.

317 c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 322. Ʒecnua [þa wyrta] wel.

318 c. 1200.  Ormin, 19308. He … haffde himm sellf wel filledd All þatt tatt cwiddedd haffde ben Off himm.

319 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 229. He … heled him ðat side wel ðat it ne wrocte him neuere a del.

320 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 388. Thise clerkes beete hym weel, and lete hym lye.

321 a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 321. Now schalle we wreke fulle wele the wrethe of oure elders!

322 c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., I. 6. Take otemele, an grynd it smal, an sethe it wyl. Ibid., 26. Menge hem wylle to-gederys.

323 1482.  Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 23. Ageyne meruaylously the colowre of hys face was reuyuyd and welle shewyd.

324 1523–34.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 35. Corne,… if it be well wynowed or fande,… wyll be solde the derer.

325 1535.  Coverdale, Ez. xxiv. 5. Let it boyle well, & let the bones seyth well therin.

326 1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Bene, Well accompanied or with a good companie.

327 1618.  W. Lawson, New Orchard & Gard. (1623), 12. All your labour … about an Orchard is lost vnlesse you fence well.

328 1639.  Fuller, Holy War, I. xix. 31. Of late some English travellers climbing this mountain were well wetted.

329 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 295. This from his Weaning, let him well be taught. Ibid., IV. 191. Lab’ring Well his little Spot of Ground.

330 1703.  Rowe, Ulysses, IV. i. (1706), 50. ’Till … that poor bleeding King be well reveng’d.

331 1799.  G. S. Carey, Balnea (ed. 2), 76. The market here is not very well supplied.

332 1814.  Scott, Wav., xlv. The pockets of the defunct … had been pretty well spung’d.

333 1820.  Keats, Lamia, II. 301. She, as well As her weak hand could any meaning tell, Motion’d him to be silent.

334 1890.  Retrospect Med., CII. 307. After being well dried with an antiseptic sponge or dry gauze.

335   13.  Used as an intensive to strengthen the idea implied in the verb, or to denote that the action, etc., indicated by it attains a high point or degree.

336   (a)  c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., v. § 2. Ne meaht þu win wringan on mide winter, þeah ðe wel lyste wearmes mustes.

337 c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 148. Syle him ðas ylcan wyrte wel drincan on wætere.

338 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1521. Niðede ðat folk him fel wel, And deden him flitten hise ostel.

339 c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 1266. Þan william wiȝily, as he wel couþe, profered him þat prisoner.

340 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 21. Thai suld weill hawe pryss That in thar tyme war wycht and wyss. Ibid., XVIII. 87. Thai said weill at thai suld do sua.

341 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., Prol. 1. As resoun also it weel confermeth.

342 1876.  Coursing Calendar, 172. Mr. Deighton’s bitch, who beat her opponent well at the finish.

343 1877.  H. Smart, Bound to Win, III. 158. Ever since … the twain had got on very well together.

344   (b)  c. 1200.  Ormin, 19300. Þiss birrþ þe full wel trowwenn.

345 a. 1352.  Minot, Poems, i. 41. Gai þai war and wele þai thoght On þe Erle Morre and oþer ma.

346 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 149. He thocht weile … That he suld slely fynd the gate [etc.].

347 c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 2507. That may i noght do, Bileves wele, for me bus go.

348 c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 67. Þe kynge … wente wele it were sothe alle þat she seyde.

349 c. 1450.  Merlin, xxxii. 655. Thei bothe fill to the erthe as he that trusted wele vpon his felowes.

350 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxxi. 34. Thomas. Sir, What so euer ye bid vs do We ascent vs well ther to.

351 1476.  Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 11. In trowthe I hadde wil hopide that your horsis shulde a ben here as þis night.

352   (c)  1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 215 b. Many moo then one to had well deserued to bee whipped.

353 a. 1669.  [see DESERVE v. 3].

354 1692.  E. Walker, trans. Epictetus’ Mor., Ep. Ded. You were then pleas’d to express an high esteem for the Author, as he very well deserves it.

355   b.  with verbs of pleasing († like, pay), liking, or loving.

356   (a)  Beowulf, 639. Ðam wife þa word wel licodon.

357 a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 918. Þam þe him on mode ær … wel ʓecwemdun.

358 c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. vi. 34. Wel mæʓ vel wel licas [L. sufficit] ðæm dæʓ weriʓnise his.

359 971.  Blickl. Hom., 29. Þis is min se leofa sunu, on þæm me wel ʓelicode.

360 a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 230. There ne es prelatte, ne pape,… That he ne myghte be wele payede of thees pryce metes!

361 1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 39. Your plainnesse and your shortnesse please me well.

362 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, I. li. 410. Sir Hargrave did not seem so well pleased.

363   (b)  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 548. Wit bestes doumb man has his fele, O thyng man liks, il or welle.

364 c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 54. Sythen seche to þe courte…, And þou shalt lyke fulle wele yf þou may lyfe aftur.

365 c. 1450.  Merlin, xxx. 607. Kynge Ban … be-hilde the maydenys, and liked well theire companye.

366 1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 2. He trusted I shuld lyke it right wele.

367 1675.  R. Burthogge, Causa Dei, 419. Perhaps, while some of us are for Martyn, and others for Luther,… God likes well of us All.

368 1847.  Riddell, Cottagers Glendale, III. xxv. Our Mary liket weel to stray Where clear the burn was rowin’.

369   (c)  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11310. O pouert na dedeigne had he þat biddes vs luue wel pouerte.

370 1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 36. In Ingland neuer before was kyng lufed so wele.

371 c. 1386.  Chaucer, C. T., Prol. 634. Wel loued he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes.

372 c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 3892. Thei love as vel as doth sustir & brothir.

373 c. 1450.  Capgrave, St. Aug., i. 3. We rede of hym … þat he hated þe Greke letteris and loued weel þe Latyn.

374 1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. vii. 139. Let them kisse one another: For they lou’d well When they were aliue.

375 1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xx. It is a spot connected with the legendary lore which I love so well.

376   c.  Placed before past pples. to denote a high degree of the state, etc., described. † Also occas. following the pple.

377 c. 1205.  Lay., 340. Þa wepmen weren iwexan, Þa wimen wel iþowene.

378 c. 1300.  E. E. Poems (1862), 153. Þis uers is ful wel iwroȝt.

379 1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 242. Now I find þe here, wele set is my trauaile.

380 c. 1352.  Minot, Poems, iii. 101. Þe Inglis men war armed wele Both in yren and in stele.

381 c. 1386.  Chaucer, C. T., Prol. 29. The chambres and the stables weren wyde And wel we weren esed atte beste.

382 a. 1425.  Cursor M., 9900 (Trin.). A deep diche is þere about wel wrouȝte wiþouten doute.

383 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. iii. 150. Eer thei be weel adauntid and weel schamed of her folie.

384 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 112. Is nayne in warld, at scaithis ma do mar, Than weile trastyt in borne familiar.

385 1553.  Ascham, Rept. Germany, 3. We were wel affrayd then, the sickenes would haue proud also to vs … very contagious.

386 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 231. Whan the number of Bysshoppes was wel increased, they beganne the Counsell.

387 1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., IV. xiii. 126 b. A Leopardes skynne well spotted. Ibid. The poleaxe at the point being well steeled.

388 1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 335. Maides well Sommer’d and warme kept, are like Flyes at Bartholomew-tyde.

389 1639.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Crabtree Lect., 46. I am neither well litter’d, nor well provender’d … nor well rubb’d, nor well curried, nor indeed well any thing’d.

390 1659.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), IV. 171. Some say the Sweade is well beaten by the Dane and Dutch.

391 1746.  Francis, trans. Hor., Sat., I. iv. 190. Well fraught with numbers is the rhyming trade.

392 1771.  Mrs. Haywood, New Present for Maid, 255. Wood-ashes well sifted.

393 1783.  S. Chapman, in Med. Commun., I. 285. Tincture of roses, well acidulated.

394 1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 497. Pots … either new or well cleaned in the inside.

395 1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxvii. She had been drawn on into wider schemes, and could not retire until these … were well started.

396   d.  With past pples. followed by prepositions or adverbs.

397 1538.  Elyot, Dict., Add., Artitus, well instructed in sciences.

398 1621.  Sanderson, Serm., Ad Pop., iv. (1689), 212. The land by that means well-purged of these overspreading Locusts.

399 1755.  J. Shebbeare, Lydia (1769), I. 178. Surgeon Macpherson being well learnt in northern knowledge.

400 1863.  Kinglake, Crimea (1876), I. xii. 198. He had not been kept well imbued with the policy which his Government was pursuing.

401 1899.  Daily News, 28 Oct., 7/1. I conceived that his system was not well-bottomed on facts.

402   e.  With adjs. in -ed (cf. 32).

403 1486.  Bk. St. Albans, e j b. An hert heeded weele.

404   14.  Clearly, definitely, without any doubt or uncertainty.

405 a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 95. Wel wostu þat hi doþ þar ynne.

406 1258.  Hen. III., Proclam., 18 Oct. § 2. Þæt witen ȝe wel alle þæt we willen [etc.].

407 c. 1290.  Beket, 119, in S. Eng. Leg., 110. For we it mowen wel i-wite … Þat … it is godes sonde.

408 a. 1300.  Harrow. Hell (Digby MS.), 57. Þou miȝt wel witen bi mi play Þat ich wile hauen mine away.

409 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 866. I sagh wel þat i misfard.

410 1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 91. Men seþ wel þat þe see seseþ & stinteþ.

411 a. 1366.  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1355. There were, and that wote I full well, Of pome garnettys a full gret dell. Ibid. (c. 1386), Merch. T., Epil. 7. And from a sooth euere wol they weyue; By this Marchauntes tale it preueth weel.

412 1411.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 650/1. He knoweth wel that … he ne hath noght born hym as he sholde hav doon.

413 c. 1450.  Merlin, xxxii. 655. Segramor … hadde well sein and parceyved whiche was Petrius.

414 1483.  Caxton, Golden Leg., 429/1. The kyng theodoryk that wel wyste of it commaunded [etc.].

415 c. 1483.  Skelton, Death Edw. IV., 37. I se wyll, they leve that doble my ȝeris.

416 1526.  Tindale, John iv. 26. I wot well Messias shall come.

417 1581.  Rich, Farew. Milit. Prof., Ep. Ded. a ij. Wisdome now hath warned me, that I well knowe Cheese from Chalke.

418 1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xix. 22 b. Which hee well perceiued, and smiling, tolde mee that he saw wel that I dissembled.

419 1624.  Bp. Mountagu, Immed. Addr., 95. As … his most sacred Maiestie can well remember.

420 1638.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett., II. 33. The number of my enemies is great, I see it well.

421 1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 926. Well thou knowst I stood Thy fiercest.

422 1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 78, ¶ 7. We well know, Sir, you want no Motives to do Justice.

423 1741–2.  Gray, Agrippina, 60. I well remember too (for I was present).

424 1788.  Priestley, Lect. Hist., IV. xxiv. 191. Nor does it well appear that their kings did afterwards introduce any of another sort.

425 1837.  Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci. (1857), II. 158. All is done by an impulsion which one does not well understand.

426 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 24. He … could well remember the political contests of the reign of James the First.

427 1895.  Law Times, XCIX. 544/1. The parties know perfectly well beforehand what are the points in dispute.

428   b.  Intimately, familiarly; closely, in detail.

429   (a)  c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 225. Mi broþer wele it [a ring] knewe, Mi fader ȝaf it me.

430 1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 253. Peter þe apostel … wel hym knewe.

431 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 13508. Wele his cosyn he knew, & kaght hym in armys.

432 c. 1420.  Avow. Arth., xxx. The kinge his bugulle con blaw, His knyȝtus couthe hitte welle knaw.

433 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VI. iii. 186. We here knowe the wel that thou arte syre Launcelot du laake.

434 1535.  Coverdale, Gen. xxix. 5. We knowe him well.

435 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., I. i. 153. You know me well.

436 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 442. The Shepherd knows it well; and calls by Name Hippomanes.

437 1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 58, ¶ 2. He being well known to us all.

438 1862.  Thackeray, Philip, xxvii. I know him … too well to think he will ever apologize!

439   (b)  a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 44. He couth … wele as Aristotill þe artis all seuyn.

440 1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 122. Arystotle … well kowth the lawes.

441 c. 1440.  Generydes, 3698. Be cause ye knowe so will this contre.

442 1602.  2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnassus, Prol. 46. Vnlesse you know the subiect well you may returne home as wise as you came.

443 1759.  Johnson, Rasselas, vii. He thought himself happy in having found a man who knew the world so well.

444 1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxiii. I can well of woodcraft.

445   15.  In a skilful or expert manner.

446 c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, xxxii. 3. Wel singað [L. bene psallite] in wynsumnisse.

447 a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 668. Sum mæʓ fingrum wel … hearpan stirʓan.

448 a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 109. Ne mei him na Mon alsa wel demen ne alsa rihte.

449 c. 1205.  Lay., 41. A Frenchis clerc, Wace wes ihoten, Þe wel couþe writen.

450 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3166. So wisliche he made hit & so wel þat me leuede him uaste.

451 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 122. Ful weel she soong the seruice dyuyne. Ibid., 384. He koude … Maken Mortreux and wel bake a pye.

452 1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, II. 2368. This Tubal koude forge weel.

453 1529.  More, Dialogue Heresyes, Wks. 108/2. And men mutter amonge them selfe, that yt boke was not only faultles, but also very wel translated.

454 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 73. The same gate or tower … well and warly was made ouer the gateloups.

455 1599.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., V. iii. 2nd Masque. How well Diana can distinguish times? Ibid. (1626), Staple of N., IV. i. Well play’d, my Poet.

456 1656.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. IV. iv. 3. A Man … able to discourse wel.

457 1706.  trans. De Piles’ Art Painting, 386. He was a universal Painter; he perform’d well alike in all kinds, Landskip only excepted.

458 1741.  C’tess Pomfret, in C’tess Hartford’s Corr. (1805), II. 277. Lord Strafford … looks extremely young … but talks very well.

459 1803.  Scott, Cadyow Castle, xvii. Aim’d well, the Chieftain’s lance has flown.

460 1857.  Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, ii. § 102. A great work is only done when the painter … determines to paint it as well as he can.

461 1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 381. Every one of these poets has said many things well and many things the reverse of well.

462   b.  In a sufficient or satisfactory manner.

463   The exact sense varies in different contexts.

464 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1541. He seruede his fader wel Wið wines drinc and seles mel.

465 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XI. 50. God may richt weill our werdis deill.

466 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Squire’s T., 18. He … kepte alwey so wel roial estat, That ther was nowher swich another man.

467 c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 2. Alle weldynge god … Wele le wereth his werke with his owne honde.

468 1712.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 26 March. The quicksets … do not grow so well as those famous ones on the ditch.

469 1853.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIV. II. 367. The machine … could not cut laid corn well.

470 1855.  Poultry Chron., II. 523. She appears moping, but eats very well.

471 1893.  Weekly Notes, 85/1. The existing practice has worked well, and … ought to be maintained.

472 1908.  [Miss E. Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 40. Very fine Irises … grow well in that garden.

473   c.  With good appearance or effect; elegantly.

474 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 196. After þe Inglis kynges he says þer pris Þat all in metir fulle wele lys.

475 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 332. This markis … hir sette Upon an hors, snow-whyt, and wel ambling.

476 c. 1450.  Merlin, iii. 44. Thider come to hym a comely man wele araied.

477 a. 1529.  Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, iv. 135. Yt wold garnyche wyll thy face.

478 1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 212, ¶ 4. A Woman must think well to look well.

479 1778.  D. Loch, Tour Scotl., 14. Upon the whole, it is a neat well laid out town.

480 1779.  Mirror, No. 11. That [science] of the serjeant, as it teaches a man to stand well on his legs.

481 1884.  E. Yates, Recoll., I. 142. The gardens were large and well laid out.

482 1898.  A. Balfour, To Arms! vi. 98. I was a big, strong fellow, carrying my six feet well.

483   IV.  As an intensive with adjectives, numerals, adverbs, etc.

484   16.  With adjectives. Formerly in common use, the sense varying from ‘fully, completely’ to ‘fairly, considerably, rather.’ Now rare exc. as in b.

485 c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxv. Seo leo, þah hio wel tam se,… heo forʓit sona hire niwan taman.

486 c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. ii. 258. Wæron her stronge cyningas and wel cristene.

487 971.  Blickl. Hom., 217. Þa wæs he þær daʓas wel maniʓe.

488 c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 180. Pisan … ʓesodena … on wine wel scearpum.

489 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 49. Ah leofemen godalmihtin haueð isceaweð us wel muchele grace.

490 c. 1205.  Lay., 25694. We habbeð wið him iuohten wel feole siðen.

491 c. 1220.  Bestiary, 112. His muð is ȝet wel unkuð wið pater noster and crede.

492 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1. Engelond his a wel god lond. Ibid., 7693. Þoru out al engelond he huld wel god pes.

493 c. 1315.  Shoreham, Poems, i. 24. Be him wel siker, þer-to he schel.

494 c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 4. In þat forest … Þer woned a wel old cherl.

495 1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 44. In a wel perilous place þat Purgatorie hette.

496 1387.  Trevisa, Higden, I. 13. I haue peynt a wel faire man.

497 c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), ix. 35. A lytill citee and a narow, bot it es wele lang.

498 c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 160. Hit shold be wele lawfull to the same Abbesse.

499 1484.  Caxton, Fables of Avian, ii. Wel hyghe fro the ground.

500 a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lii. 176. He thought hymselfe ryght wel happy.

501 1577.  Harrison, England, II. ii. 62/1, in Holinshed. The Ogur or Gur … is a welfaire streame.

502 1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, IV. xxxi. 489. A branche of leaues, very well like to the leaues of the Lentil.

503 1599.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., V. iv. Tis well brim full. Euen I haue glut of blood.

504 1648.  Gage, West Ind., 160. They have enough and more then is well sutable to their vow … of poverty.

505 1664.  H. More, Apol., vi. in Myst. Iniq., 520. When he was once well warm in his Dignity.

506 1700.  Dryden, Pal. & Arc., I. 151. Nor well alive nor wholly dead they were.

507 1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Painting, To Paint on a Wall: when well dry, they give it two or three Washes of boiling Oil.

508 1822.  Scoresby’s Jrnl. Whale Fish. (1823), 448. We … made her well fast for another night’s lodgings.

509   b.  In modern use esp. in well able, aware, worth, worthy.

510 c. 1420.  Sir Amadace, xxxi. Ȝe mone haue maysturs euyrqware, As wele wurthi ȝe ar soe.

511 1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 224. Amen, if you loue her, for the Ladie is verie well worthie.

512 1611.  Bible, Num. xiii. 30. Let vs goe vp at once and possesse it, for we are well able to ouercome it.

513 1612.  R. Ch., Olde Thrift newly revived, 64. Though it be a seemely and large tree, and well worth the hauing, yet [etc.].

514 1697.  Dryden, Æneis, VII. 906. Himself well worthy of a happier Throne.

515 1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 78, ¶ 9. You are well able to settle this affair.

516 1780.  Coxe, Russ. Discov., 187. He was well aware that the only method [etc.].

517 1804.  Anna Seward, Lett. (1811), VI. 164. Every day produces letters as well worth attention as most of Cowper’s.

518 1837.  B. D. Walsh, Aristoph., Knts., I. iii. I was well aware that these intrigues were carpentered.

519 1885.  Law Times’ Rep., LII. 650/2. She thought the property was well worth that amount.

520   † 17.  With numerals, or terms of measurement, denoting fulness of the number, distance, etc. Obs.

521 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xv. 37. Se godspellere … ðær þurhwunode wel twa ʓear mid him. Ibid. (c. 1000), On New T. (Grein), 13. For þan þe ic ʓesett hæbbe, wel feowertiʓ larspella on Engliscum ʓereorde.

522 c. 1290.  St. Kenelm, 232, in S. Eng. Leg., 352. Folk þat þis wonder isaiȝ … awaiteden wel a dai ȝware þe kou bicome.

523 c. 1300.  Havelok, 1747. He tok sone knithes ten, And wel sixti oþer men.

524 a. 1352.  Minot, Poems, vii. 57. Knightes war þare wele two score.

525 a. 1375.  Joseph Arim., 521. Seraphe takes of heore men wel a two hundred.

526 c. 1400.  Maundev. (1919), xxii. 126. Wel a .iiij. quarteres of a furlong ore more.

527 c. 1425.  Engl. Conq. Ireland, xxi. 52. Wel thre þousand men.

528 1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), II. 446. He … was there well thre owres seechyng yf he coude fynde ony hoole or caue. Ibid. (c. 1489), Sonnes of Aymon, i. 23. They were well an hondred men or more.

529 1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xvi. 17. There was deed in the place, well to the nombre of ccc.

530 1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. iii. 8. A great Harbour, which reacheth into the Lande sixe leagues, and at the entering it containeth well as much more.

531   18.  † a. With adverbs. (Cf. 16.) Obs.

532   See also WELL-A-FINE, -MOST, -NEAR, -NIGH, and YWHERE adv.

533 a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 8. Wel late ich habbe me bi-þocht; bute god me nu rede.

534 a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 36. For þine wle lete Wel ofte ich my song furlete.

535 c. 1275.  Lay., 25349. Folk þar com wel sone to þare borh of Rome.

536 13[?].  Guy Warw. (1891), 446. Wel wele y knowe,… Herhaud, so god me rede.

537 c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 4989. I hote þe in hert it liked him wel ille.

538 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 67. The moste my[s]chief on molde is mountyng wel faste.

539 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 33. There is wel onethe game non That from myne bokys maketh me to gon.

540 c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 2513. Down to the erthe wele lowe thay loute.

541 1450–80.  trans. Secreta Secret., xxi. 17. They beren it welle grevously ayens him.

542 1563.  Winȝet, trans. Vincent. Lirin., ix. Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 27. The writtingis of sum auld aunciant man weil dirklie setfurth.

543   b.  With advs. and preps. of place or direction, in later use freq. in figurative phrases.

544 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11027. Til elizabeth þan welforth stadd, Hir child in wamb [began] be gladd.

545 c. 1320.  Sir Tristrem, 22. His name, it sprong wel wide.

546 1387.  Trevisa, Higden, I. 17. Þat is in oþer bookes iwrite welwyde.

547 c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 549. He thoght to be wele on hys way Or it war passed the thryd day.

548 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. iv. 20. Welnyȝ or weel toward the al hool lawe with which Cristen men ben chargid.

549 1473.  Paston Lett., III. 92. Som men thynke it wysdom … to be theer now weell owt off the weye.

550 c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, vii. 176. But or ever he was vnbounde, the other were well ferre.

551 1530.  Palsgr., 862/1. Well forwarde, bien auant.

552 1625.  Purchas, Pilgrims, II. 1132. Well within the banke we harboured.

553 1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 173. Whose Force … so gauled Seva Gi, that he wish’d him well off.

554 1788.  J. White, Jrnl. Voy. N. S. Wales (1790), 109. Being well in with the westward-most point of a very large bay.

555 1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxv. 133. The Captain stood well to the westward, to run inside the Bermudas.

556 1855.  M. Pattison, in Oxford Ess., 287. Though not published till 1830, which was well into the second period.

557 1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xvii. She held her head well up.

558 1895.  Law Times’ Rep., LXXII. 817/1. A woman well past the age of childbearing.

559   † c.  Well at ease: see EASE sb. 7 a.

560 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17651. He was gestend ful wel at es.

561 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIII. 42. Of þat men mys-wonne, þei made hem wel at ese.

562 1530.  Palsgr., 844/1. Well at ease, bien ayse.

563 1551.  T. Wilson, Logic, D j. Nature hath denied some men health of body, that thei are neuer wel at ease.

564 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 232. He felte hymselfe skant well at ease.

565 1706.  trans. De Piles’ Art Painting, 229. By these high Prises Guido found himself, in a little while, very well at ease, and liv’d nobly.

566 1825.  Jennings, Obs. Dial. W. Eng., Well-at-ease, hearty, healthy.

567   d.  With various prepositional phrases or adverbs denoting a state or condition.

568 c. 1425.  Macro Plays, Cast. Persev., 2702. Þou art a party wele in age.

569 1605.  Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 179. They were wel at peace, when I did leaue ’em.

570 1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xlii. 168. A woman reasonably well in years.

571 1701.  W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, i. 17. Marcus went to Lectures to this Man … when he was well in Years.

572 1861.  Hughes, Tow Brown at Oxf., iv. It takes no mean qualities to keep a boat’s crew well together and in order.

573 1879.  Mrs. Argles, Airy Fairy Lilian, III. 100. Taffy and Mabel Steyne can be seen a little lower down, holding well together.

574   † 19.  With comparative adjs. and advs. (esp. bet or better, worse, and more): Much, considerably, rather. Obs.

575 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 287. Man þou art iwis To winne ȝvt a kinedom wel betere þan min is.

576 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2438. Abram went ham and his wijf sare, He luued hir wil mare þan are.

577 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2359. Men sese noght ne krawes what it es, Þarfor men dredes it wele þe les.

578 1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 95. I deme men þat don ille, and ȝit I do wel worse.

579 c. 1400.  Beryn, 902. It had be wel bettir, he had be wele I-lernyd.

580 c. 1400.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), IV. xxxviii. (1859), 63. Thenne began she to wepe wel faster than byfore.

581 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxvi. 304. I was well wrother with Iudas.

582 1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 199. Fra that tyme furth the weill les he thame dred.

583 1624.  Bedell, Lett., xi. 141. Your next is well worse.

584   V.  20. As well as: a. In as good, efficient, satisfactory, (etc.) a way or manner as. (Also, in early use, simply well as.)

585 a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 44. And wele as Aristotill [he couth] þe artis all seuyn.

586 1435.  Coventry Leet Bk. (1907), 182. But neuer-the-later … he makithe cardes ther-of as well as he may.

587 1530.  Palsgr., 831/2. As well as is possyble,… As well as can be or maye be.

588 1589.  Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. xxii. (Arb.), 267. Certaine propheticall rymes, which might be constred two or three wayes as well as to that one whereunto the rebels applied it.

589 1600.  Look About You, I 1 b. I see Prince Iohn coorted as well as I.

590 1634.  Milton, Comus, 201. This is the place, as well as I may guess.

591 1634.  Massinger, Very Woman, IV. i. Ped. How hast thou sped? John. My Lord, as well as wishes.

592 1793.  Piper of Peebles, 6. Fan cummers fled and hurl’d as weel On ice, as ony vady chiel.

593 a. 1809.  J. Palmer, Like Master (1811), I. xii. 174. I am left to rough it as well as I can.

594 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 74. She affected … to listen with civility while the Hydes excused their recent conduct, as well as they could.

595   b.  To the same extent, in the same degree, as much, as.

596   OE. eal swa wel … swa swa occurs in the same sense (Ælfric, Hom., I. 274).

597 c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, I. 75. He … sayde he was a synner & mysterd forgyfnes of his syn als wele as sho did.

598 1474.  Caxton, Chesse, II. i. (1481), b j. He … swore to hym … that also wel he was and shold be his frend … as euer he had ben tofore.

599 1547.  Homilies, I. Swearing, II. G iv b. Aswell they vse the name of God in vayne … as they whiche do promise [etc.].

600 1628.  Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. (ed. 3), 235. Why hath Daulis and Thebes no Swallowes … as well as the rest of Greece.

601 1710.  Addison, Whig Exam., No. 4, ¶ 1. A man may as well hope to distinguish colours in the midst of darkness, as to find out what to approve and disapprove in nonsense.

602 1891.  R. W. Church, Oxf. Movement, xix. 347. The English Church was after all as well worth living in and fighting for as any other.

603   c.  With weakened force, passing into the sense of ‘both … and,’ ‘not only … but also.’ Also † so well … as.

604   In early use the rendering ‘not only … but also’ is applicable only if the two contrasted words or expressions are transposed.

605 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 49. And therto hadde he riden … As wel in cristendom as in Hethenesse.

606 1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 117. For al schal deie … Als wel a Leoun as an asse, Als wel a beggere as a lord.

607 c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), vii. 25. Þus þai do als wele in winter as in somer.

608 c. 1425.  trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 60. Blode is norischyng of al membrez, als wele of sadde as of softe.

609 1467–8[?].  Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 100. The Shireff shewyd ij comyssions of this graunt as well of the lordes as of the comyns.

610 1533.  Cranmer, Lett. to Dean of Arches, Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.), II. 253. That you take all manner of depositions as well for the one part as for the other.

611 1571.  Digges, Pantom., I. xx. G j b. In equiangle triangles aswell the contayning as the subtending sides of equall angles are proportionall.

612 1588.  Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 329. All of them as well the men as women and children were clothed with shamway skins.

613 1645.  Gataker, God’s Eye on Israel, 50. Consisting of both sorts, as well unfaithfull as faithfull, as well bad as good.

614 1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, II. iv. § 2. Which … must certainly comprehend as well the morall as the ceremoniall part of Moses his Law.

615 1718.  Hickes & Nelson, J. Kettlewell, I. xiii. 38. Making Use as well of his Eye … as of his Tongue.

616 1749.  C. Middleton, Free Inq., Pref. p. xxxiii. It is allowed … by all, as well friends as enemies.

617 1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xiv. Our churchmen have become wealthy, as well by the gifts of pious persons, as by … bribes.

618   (b)  1545.  Bale, Image Both Ch., xiii. (1550), d viij. Comprehending in him so wel Mahomyte as the Pope, so well the ragynge tyraunt as the styll hypocryte.

619   d.  Used to denote the inclusion of one thing (person, etc.) or class with another.

620 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. vii. 316. The multitude of the lay peple, as weel as of clerkis.

621 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IX. xxxvi. 397. Whan men ben hote in dedes of armes ofte they hurte their frendes as wel as their foes.

622 1613.  Hieron, Serm., Wks. 1614, I. 335. Whereas the children of God in many things are trespassers aswell as the vngodly.

623 1649.  Howell, Dodona’s Grove (ed. 3), 3. Nor is she lesse abounding in all things conducing to pleasure also, aswel as profit.

624 1655.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), III. 221. My heart as well as pursse being quite sunck.

625 1702.  Addison, Dial. Medals, ii. (1726), 37. I find … the Latins mean Courage by the figure of Virtue, as well as by the word it self.

626 1715.  Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 127. The two first … are made of Tin as well as the third.

627 1769.  Junius Lett., ii. 13. Educated … by … a most spirited as well as excellent scholar.

628 1821.  Craig, Lect. Drawing, etc., vii. 404. The back-ground as well as other parts is dotted or stippled.

629 1854.  Mrs. Jameson, Comm.-pl. Bk. (1877), 38. There are different sorts of strength as well as different degrees.

630 1896.  Law Times’ Rep., LXXIII. 615/1. A highway for carriages as well as for foot-passengers.

631   21.  As well. a. Also, in addition; in the same way.

632 1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 536. As she dyde, he dyde yn dede;… Ryȝt as she dede, he dede as weyl.

633 1549.  Compl. Scot., Epist. 1. As veil it bringis furtht … hoilsum frute of honour.

634 a. 1631.  Donne, Paradoxes (1652), 60. They should love their brothers aswel.

635 1669–70.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 302. The next news will be, that … they [the Lords] have as well complyed on their part also.

636 1875.  Economist, 23 Jan., 95/1. But the state of the French Exchange is such that gold is taken from London as well.

637 1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxvii. Because she was a dressmaker, and lived at Stepney, he would be a workman and live there as well.

638   b.  To the same extent.

639 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. ix. 199. Wherfore as weel or miche rather Cristen men ouȝten be waar forto entirmete with like ymagis. Ibid., II. xviii. 260. Wherfore as weel and as alloweabili y mai seie this speche.

640   c.  With may, might, had, etc., implying the equivalence or equal result of one action in comparison with another.

641 c. 1440.  York Myst., xxix. 249. Sir, we myght als wele talke tille a tome tonne!

642 1608.  Dod & Cleaver, Expos. Prov. xi. and xii., 87. I might as well haue thrown my mony down the riuer.

643 1652.  Shirley, Brothers, IV. v. He might as well have murdered me, for I Shall have no heart to live.

644 1692.  E. Walker, trans. Epictetus’ Mor., xviii. As well you might Wish Vice were Virtue, wish that Black were White.

645 1730.  Lett. to Sir W. Strickland rel. to Coal Trade, 25. Dyers … buy wholly of the Lightermen, tho’ they might as well … buy of the Masters.

646 1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ., Le Patisser. As I am at Versailles, thought I, I might as well take a view of the town.

647 1800.  Wordsw., Hart-Leap Well, II. ix. You might as well Hunt half a day for a forgotten dream.

648 1820.  Byron, Mar. Fal., IV. ii. It had been As well had there been time to have got together, From my own fief … more Of our retainers—but it is too late.

649 1870.  J. E. T. Rogers, Hist. Glean., Ser. II. 151. He thought he might as well strive to promote his own ends.

650 1879.  Miss Braddon, Cloven Foot, xxxviii. You really may as well let me have a little food.

651   22.  a. With qualifying adverb prefixed, as too well, pretty well.

652   Also freq. with so, very, full (see FULL adv. 1 c), right (see RIGHT adv. 9 a).

653   (a)  c. 888.  Ælfred, Boethius, vii. § 3. For ðæm þæt ðe ðissa woruldsælða to wel ne lyste.

654 971.  Blickl. Hom., 185. Ic lærde þæt men … uþgengra welena to wel ne truwodon.

655 1604.  Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 344. Then must you speake Of one that lou’d not wisely, but too well.

656 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. ix. 59. Those [facts], however, would too well justify him.

657   (b)  1599.  Massinger, etc., Old Law, V. i. The Dutch Veny I swallowed pretty wel.

658 1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 214. Give the Horse pretty well of my Cordial Ball. Ibid., 215. He has pretty well of Flesh upon his Back.

659 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. vii. 40. Their father … by that time, had pretty well got over his grief.

660 1855.  Kingsley, Westw. Ho! ii. He … had his heart pretty well hardened by long, baneful licence.

661 1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxviii. They had got by this time pretty well all they clamoured for.

662 1888.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Bootle’s Childr., xi. Lassie kept her composure pretty well.

663 1902.  H. K. Mann, Lives Popes, I. I. 417. It had then, to argue from the pallium of St. Gregory I., pretty well its modern shape.

664   (c)  1903.  Kipling, Five Nations, 117. We have had a jolly good lesson, and it serves us jolly well right.

665   b.  Well enough: sufficiently well, adequately.

666   In the 16th cent. occasionally written as one word.

667 1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 295. And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh, It was fantosme.

668 c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 215. When sho saw þis maister of þe knyghtis, sho knew hym well enogh & he hur. Ibid., 414. I know þe not, bod I know þat gown well enogh.

669 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XXI. i. 839. And by cause of hyr fayre speche Syr Mordred trusted hyr wel ynough.

670 1579.  J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, D 7. Which mought wel ynough be the cause why the Pope decked hym with hys title of most christian king.

671 1585.  Parsons, Chr. Exerc., Pref. 4. The vulgar translation is known welinough.

672 1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xxx. (1592), 473. But the Rabbines saw wellynough that the miracles of Iesus could not be denied.

673 1631.  Shirley, Sch. Compl., V. i. 68. He gaue me two or three kicks, which I deseru’d well enough.

674 1710–1.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 11 Jan. The scheme … would have done well enough in good hands.

675 1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, I. xvii. 119. They liked not the humour he seemed to be in well enough to comply with his request.

676   VI.  23. Employed without construction to introduce a remark or statement, sometimes implying that the speaker or writer accepts a situation, etc., already expressed or indicated, or desires to qualify this in some way, but frequently used merely as a preliminary or resumptive word.

677 c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xl. § 4. Wella, wisan men, wel, gað ealle on þone weʓ [etc.].

678 c. 1315.  Shoreham, Poems, I. 285. Wel, broþer, Ne non ne may icristned be Ar he his boren of moder.

679 [1382.  Wyclif, Isaiah xliv. 16 He … is chaufid, and seide, Vah, or weel, I am hat. Ibid. (1388), Ezek. xxvi. 2. Wel! the ȝatis of puplis ben brokun.]

680 c. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 505. ‘Well,’ seyde Apollo, ‘yef he on erthe bee, Wyth my brennyng chare I shall hym confound.’

681 c. 1450.  Cov. Myst., Counc. Jews, 76. Wel, serys, ȝe sal se … I xal correcte hym for his trespas.

682 1529.  More, Dyalogue, I. xxi. 27 b. Well quod I yet wold I wit one thyng more.

683 1550.  Crowley, Way to Wealth, 320. Wel, loke to this geare be tyme.

684 1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, I. 13. Wel, thee to please, I wil [go] to Ioue.

685 1589.  [? Lyly], Pappe w. Hatchet, B ij. Squirrilitie were a better word: well, let me alone to squirrell them.

686 1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 47. This is a very scuruy tune to sing at a mans Funerall: well, here’s my comfort. Drinkes.

687 1652.  H. Bell, Luther’s Colloq. Mensalia, 293. They … take from us what wee have. Well! they will repent it.

688 1691.  trans. Emiliane’s Observ. Journ. Naples, 207. Well, (said he) I shall make a shift … to eat them with my Fingers.

689 1711.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 3 Nov. Well, but as I was saying, what care I for your Mayor?

690 1766.  Goldsm., Vicar, xii. Well, my boy, what have you brought us from the fair?

691 1779.  Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 261. He asked, ‘Well, and how is George?’

692 1826.  Galt, Last of Lairds, xvii. 151. ‘I understood that Mr. Mailings … was one of your most particular friends.’ ‘Well, and what of that?’

693 1863.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 170. Well, I returned from that visit quite set up.

694 1891.  Fiske, Holiday Stor., 197. As works of art—well, they were rather too highly colored for works of art.

695   b.  sb. An instance of this use of the word.

696 1866.  Lowell, Biglow P., Ser. II. Introd. (1912), 282. A friend … told me that he once heard five ‘wells’ … precede the answer to an inquiry.

697 1885.  Proc. Amer. Soc. Psych. Research, I. 312 (Cent.). The ‘wells’ and ‘ahs,’ ‘don’t-you-know’s’ and other stop-gap interjections.

698   24.  Well, well, denoting surprise, resignation or acquiescence.

699 [1388.  Wyclif, Ps. xxxiv. 21. Thei seiden, Wel, wel! oure iȝen han sien.

700 c. 1420.  Prymer (1895), 66 (Ps. xl. 15). Bere þei her confusioun anoon, þat seien to me, ‘wel! wel!’]

701 c. 1480.  Henryson, Town & C. Mouse, x. ‘Weill, weill, sister,’ quod the rurale mous [etc.].

702 1546.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 70. Well well (quoth she) many wels, many buckets.

703 1675.  Cotton, Burlesque, 183 Apol. Well! well! but he were best take heed How he attaques my Maiden-head.

704 1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 533, ¶ 1. Well, well, you may banter as long as you please.

705 1815.  Scott, Guy M., xlii. But well, well!—it will last my time.

706 1847.  Helps, Friends in C., I. vii. 117. Well, well, we will leave these heights, and descend in little drops of criticism.

707 1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xv. ‘Father,’… you must not talk like that.’ ‘Well, well, my dear,’ said her father, ‘well, well.’

708   b.  with intervening noun (in vocative).

709 c. 1550.  R. Wever, Lusty Juventus (c. 1560), D j b. Well wanton well, I wysse I can tel [etc.].

710 1554.  Interl. Youth (facs. Waley), B iij. Well wanton well, fye for shame.

711 1598.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., I. (1601), B 1 b. Well Cosen well, I see you are e’ene past hope Of all reclaime.

712 1605.  Chapman, All Fooles, II. i. E 1. Well, wag, well, wilt thou still deceiue thy father…?

713 a. 1652.  Brome, Mad Couple, I. i. (1653), B 6 b. Well wag well, you must not now put me off with my wife.

714   25.  Very well, denoting agreement, approval or acquiescence.

715   In the absence of construction the distinction between the adverbial and adjectival use becomes obscured: cf. WELL a. 7 and 10.

716 1564.  Brief Exam., D j b. You wyll say, we haue a commaundement of the Lorde…. Very well.

717 1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 518. We were chas’d … By five Sloops,… says the Fellow…. Very well, said I, then it is apparent there is something in it.

718 1815.  Scott, Guy M., xlvii. The Baronet, though highly offended, could only say, ‘Very well, sir, it is very well.’

719 1866.  Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, xxxv. At last he said … ‘I agree—I must have time.’ ‘Very well. It is a bargain.’

720 1878.  Hardy, Ret. Native, VI. iii. ‘Very well, then,’ sighed Thomasin, ‘I will say no more.’

721   26.  Well then, introducing a conclusion or further statement, or implying that one can naturally be drawn or made.

722 c. 1440.  York Myst., xxxiii. 237. Wele þan, We sall frayst er they founde vs fer fro.

723 1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIX. (Percy Soc.), 138. Well then, quod she, I shall you nowe tell Howe the case standeth.

724 1535.  Coverdale, Ezek. iv. 15. Well than, I will graunte the to take cowes donge, for the donge off a man.

725 1542.  Recorde, Gr. Artes, N viij b. Well then go forthe, in the nexte space I fynd one counter, which I remoue forward.

726 1628.  J. Doughty, Serm., 10. Well then, let both principles of Church tenents and Scripture stand in force.

727 1647.  Cowley, Mistress, Wish, i. Well then; I now do plainly see, This busie world and I shall ne’re agree.

728 1679.  Dryden, Œdipus, III. i. 34. Dio. Basely you kill’d him. Adr. … Well then, I kill’d him basely.

729 1802–12.  Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 136, note. Well then, since we must stop somewhere, we will stop at a trillion.

730 1844.  Disraeli, Coningsby, III. i. Well then, there were Bolingbroke and Pitt.

731 1884.  B. L. Farjeon, Gt. Porter Sq. (ed. 6), xxxvii. 290. ‘Well then!’ she exclaimed; winding up the argument thus, as is the way with women.

732   27.  With various additions, esp. well now, oh well, ah well.

733   (a)  1599.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., IV. iv. Well now master Snip, let mee see your Bill.

734 1615.  T. Adams, Spiritual Navig., 19. Well yet, as salt and bitter as this Ocean the world is, there is some good wrought out of this ill.

735 1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, VIII. iii. ‘Well now,’ said he, ‘remember the sin of this breach of appointment lies wholly at your door.’

736 1889.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Mrs. Bob, xix. ‘What are you thinking about, Stevie?’… ‘Oh! well really, I can’t say.’

737   (b)  a. 1779.  D. Graham, Writ. (1883), II. 56. Sawny. A well a well then good day to you good-mither.

738 1814.  Scott, Wav., xxix. Aweel, Duncan—did ye say your name was Duncan or Donald?’

739 1848.  Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, xxxi. The old woman tried to comfort her, beginning with her accustomed—‘Well-a-well!’

740 1868.  Le Fanu, Lost Name, I. xxii. 220. ‘Oh! well, after luncheon, then,’ said he.

741   VII.  Comb. The adverb Well is extensively employed in combination with various parts of the verb, esp. the past and present participles, and in parasynthetic adjectives ending in -ed. In modern practice the latter are regularly hyphened. In attributive use the participial formations are properly hyphened, and the hyphen is also frequently employed even when the construction is predicative. On account of the large number of such combinations, all those of any standing (either by common or continued use, or in virtue of their source) are treated as main words, the less important or less common being printed in smaller type without definition, after the model of similar words in UN-. The normal insertion or omission of the hyphen, according to the construction of the word in the sentence, is indicated by printing it within parentheses, as well(-)baked.

742   In the following enumeration of the different types of combinations the illustration is chronological, and partly includes words more fully exemplified below.

743   28.  With past pples., as well-born, -bred, -done, etc., in predicative or attributive use.

744 Beowulf, 1927. Hyʓd swiðe ʓeong, wis, welþungen.

745 c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 111. Ʒif hwæt welʓedones bið.

746 c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xix. 12. Monn sum welboren.

747 c. 975.  Rushw. Gosp., John vi. 45. Alle larwas vel welʓilærde.

748 c. 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 385. Bot off lymmys he was weill maid With … schuldrys braid.

749 c. 1386.  [see DISPOSED 2].

750 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. viii. 190. It is merytorie and weel doon forto ȝeue thilk ensaumple.

751 1474.  Sir J. Paston, Lett., III. 107. He … lefte a greet garnyson theer, weell ffornysshyd in vytayll, and all other thynge.

752 1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxviii. 469. A well trauelled knight and well knowen.

753 1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. 128. His legges wel sette.

754 a. 1623.  Fletcher, Love’s Cure, III. iv. Cla. ’Tis ill for a fair Lady to be idle. Say. She had better be well-busied.

755 1631.  Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 548. An ancient and well allied familie.

756 1661.  Boyle, Physiol. Ess. (1669), 178. The hardness of a well-blown Bladder.

757 1746.  Francis, trans. Hor., Epist., I. vi. 58. Venus decks the well-be-money’d Swain.

758 1793.  Holcroft, trans. Lavater’s Physiogn., xxiii. 116. Well-arched and short foreheads are … not of long duration.

759 1851.  Mayne Reid, Scalp Hunters, xxi. This was said in well-accentuated … English.

760 1890.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Miner’s Right, xxxiii. The well-clothed, well-fed, well-amused passage through barren hours.

761   29.  With present pples, in adjectival (predicative or attributive) use.

762 c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 107. Onʓean ða godan & ða wellibbendan. Ibid., lvii. 439. Wyrta … swiðe welstincenda.

763 c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Spelman) cl. 5. Heriað hine on cimbalum wel sweʓendum.

764 1382.  Wyclif, Ps. xci. 15. Wel suffrende thei shul be. Ibid., Ecclus. xlvii. 14. A son weel felende [filius sensatus].

765 1432.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 405/2. The wynes … were … faire, fyne, wele drinking.

766 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. xx. 274. Thilk word … is … so weel teching and dressing.

767 1477.  Paston Lett., III. 182. If ther be among theym eny pric horse … in especiall that he be well trottyng.

768 a. 1586.  Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 40. Accompanied with … the well inchaunting skill of Musicke.

769 1597.  A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 38/2. Then with a well-cuttinge sawe, sawe of the whole legge.

770 1660.  Ingelo, Bentiv. & Ur., I. (1682), 148. The People express’d it with such exact harmony of well agreeing voices.

771 1670.  Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 12. If a lad has but a lusty and well-bearing memory … he proves a brave clergyman.

772 1844.  W. H. Mill, Serm. Tempt. Christ, iii. 77. That … view, even when sobered to a well-calculating morality.

773 1864.  R. L. De Coin, Hist. of Cult. Cotton & Tobacco, 279. You will also supply yourself with sticks split from some good or well-splitting wood.

774 1884.  McLaren, Spinning (ed. 2), 36. A vessel … containing a well-closing lid.

775 1889.  Baden-Powell, Pigsticking, 12. A sport which draws so well-paying a visitation on to their village.

776   30.  With verbal sbs., as well-building, -guiding -joining, -keeping, etc.

777   The later tendency is to employ good with the vbl. sb., and restrict well to the gerund.

778 a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter cxviii. 9. With þi wele-setting [L. ordinatione] lastes dai.

779 a. 1568.  Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 49. Finding paine in ill doing, and pleasure in well studiyng.

780 1586.  A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, II. (1625), 14. Weeting of my well-deeming.

781 1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, XVII. xcvi. Through my well guiding is your voiage donne.

782 1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. ii. 152. Car. And euer may your Highnesse yoake together … my doing well, With my well saying.

783 1623.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Discov. by Sea, C 2 b. A … large Armorie … with other Weapons and munition, which for goodnesse,… and well-keeping, is not second to any Noblemans in England.

784 1624.  Wotton, Elem. Archit., 1. Well building hath three Conditions.

785 1641.  Sanderson, Serm., Ad Aulam, xiii. (1674), II. 195. In the well-joy[n]ing consisteth the strenth of structure.

786   b.  Freq. with vbl. sbs. followed by of.

787 c. 1440.  Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), I. lxiii. Vayne gladnes & wel payeng of thiselfe.

788 a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. iii. (1912), 19. The well bringing up of the people.

789 1596.  Harington, Anat. Metam. Ajax, Ep. L ij b. The wel handling of the matter.

790 1623.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Discov. by Sea, B 3 b. His goods are but lent him, by him that will one day call him to a reckoning, for the well or ill disposing of them.

791 a. 1639.  W. Whateley, Prototypes, III. xxxix. (1640), 17. The wel-husbanding of abundance.

792 1655.  D. Dickson, Ps. xcii. 4, in Spurgeon, Treas. David, IV. 272. One of the parts of the well-spending of the Sabbath.

793 1667.  Earl Orrery, St. Lett. (1742), 305. For the well constituting of the said corporations.

794 1668.  Dryden, Dram. Poesie, 46. The copiousness and well-knitting of the intrigues we have from Johnson.

795 1690.  Child, Disc. Trade (1698), 158. The well-making of our Woollen-Manufactures.

796 1691.  T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 119. The safety and well sailing of a Vessel.

797 1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 48. In the well draining of Cornlands lies a main advantage. Ibid., 50. The well covering of the Seed must be of great advantage.

798 1739.  Trowell, Treat. Husb., etc., 4. The well ploughing of the Land is a very great Advantage to all Seeds sown.

799 1766.  Complete Farmer, s.v. Plough, The well going of the plough wholly depends upon the placing of this.

800   c.  With gerunds followed by an object or preposition.

801 1568[?].  in Pettus, Fodinæ Reg. (1670), 61. Rules and Ordinances for the well-governing the Affairs of the Society, etc.

802 1625.  K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, V. xiv. 383. For the love of her … hee would not faile in well-looking to his charge.

803 1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 138. Because of … the wel-seating it … he allured out of Babilon sixe hundred thousand soules.

804 1693.  G. St. Lo, England’s Safety, title-p., A Sure Method for … Raising Qualified Seamen for the well Manning Their Majesties Fleet on any Occasion.

805 1699.  T. C[ockman], trans. Tully’s Offices, 135. By Moderation … we mean … the knowledge of Well-timing whatever we do.

806 1765.  Gale, in Phil. Trans., LV. 197. The well-peopling the colonies, and securing our new acquisitions.

807 1766.  Complete Farmer, s.v. Lucern, The grand secret of well-managing a trading populous country.

808 1854.  Poultry Chron., II. 351/2. The … all-important necessity of well matching the poultry.

809 1890.  A. P. Morton, trans. Le Roux’ Acrobats & Mountebanks, 168. In well calculating the strength of the steed.

810   31.  With verbs, as well-ally, -clothe, -employ, etc. Now rare.

811 a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter civ. 9. He was mined … of his witeword hende … Þat he weleset [Vulg. disposuit] for Abraham sake.

812 14[?].  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 602/23. Persoleo,… to welwone.

813 1563.  Man, Musculus’ Commonpl., 286 b. Seyng that the mystery of the holy Trinitye did not well lyke with that people.

814 1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., xvii. 6. That of so great Descent, and of so large a Dower, Might well-allie their House.

815 1670.  Milton, Hist. Brit., III. 129. Prowlers … intent upon all occasions … to pamper and well line themselves.

816 1851.  (title) Robert Owen’s Journal. Explanatory of the Means to Well-place and Well-feed, Well-clothe, Well-lodge, Well-employ, Well-govern, and Cordially unite the Populations of the World.

817   32.  Forming parasynthetic adjectives in -ed, as well-ancestored, -dispositioned, -eared, etc.

818   Cf. OE. welwillednes.

819 1530.  Palsgr., 442/2. This sworde is well backed.

820 1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 495. Of bodie he was slender,… well membred, and strongly made.

821 1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. xviii. 34, 63. He had bin a well-sinewed man.

822 1591.  Greene, Farew. Folly (1617), I 4 b. The Gentleman is well forehanded and well foreheaded.

823 1630.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., xlii. 107. Why perfectly limmed; not a cripple? Why well-sensed; not a foole?

824 1671.  Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. vii. 52. That those that shall be received, be thereto called by God, and be well-dispositioned.

825 1688.  J. Grubb, Brit Heroes, vii. Castor the flame of fiery steed, With well-spur’d boots took down.

826 1704.  Hymn to Victory, lx. 41. Old English Courage scorns those trifling things, The Higher Ground, the Well-flank’d Wings.

827 1804.  Mitford, Inquiry, 372. A well-eared poet will of course avoid cacophony in rimes.

828 1855.  Poultry Chron., III. 452. Her eggs are well formed and well-shelled.

829 1857.  Gosse, Omphalos, xi. 326. The formidable Shark,… well-toothed adult.

830 1891.  Harper’s Mag., July, 318/1. She is true to the well-ancestored, rich, dull respectability from which she springs.

831 1894.  Outing, Sept., 427/2. The five brace of grand, plump, well-plumaged birds.

832   33.  With adjectives.

833 a. 1780.  Braes o Yarrow, vii. in Child, Ballads, IV. 165/1. Nine well-wight men lay waiting him.

834 1797–1803.  Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, xxviii. The two girls … found themselves so well-sufficient … to themselves, that it was eleven o’clock … before they quitted the supper-room.

835 1853.  Tait’s Mag., XX. 267. Its accession … would bring no well-wieldable strength with it.

836 1886.  J. Corbett, Fall of Asgard, I. 115. The charm of his face were the well-open eyes.

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