a. Now rare. [f. WEALTH + -FUL.] Abounding in wealth; † happy (obs.), rich, prosperous; conducive to wealth. † Wealthful of, abounding in.
13[?]. Cursor M., 641 (Gött.). Þis is a stede of welthful wone.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XV. lviii. (1495), 509. Though Flaundres be lityll in space yet it is welthfull of many specyall thynges and good. Ibid., XVII. clvi. 707. In good and fatte grounde growyth good eere in grete quantytee and welthfull of greynes.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, Christina, 4. A cyte … Weldful and ful off werldly solas.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 211. This man … at ye sa welthfull mak.
1513. More, Rich. III., Wks. 38/1. All is … quiete, and likelie righte wel to prosper in wealthful peace under youre coseyns. Ibid. (1534), Comf. agst. Trib., III. Wks. 1235/2. God hauynge manye mancions, and al wonderfull wealthfull in his fathers house.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 20/2. All things necessarie for the wealthfull state of man.
1776. Mickle, trans. Camoens’ Lusiad, 464. Malacca’s castled harbour here survey, The wealthful seat foredoom’d of Lusian sway.
1883. Miss Broughton, Belinda, III. vi. It is a lovely rain,… healthful, wealthful, beneficent.
Hence † Wealthfully adv., † Wealthfulness.
c. 1450. trans. Boeth. de Consol., I. met. vii., MS. Bodl. Auct. F. 3. 5, lf. 220 b. Gladnes in hauynge of worldely welthefulnes.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), III. 206. To leve ay in welthfulnes.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom., II. ii. (1592), N 8. To lead thy life wealthfully.
