Obs. Forms: 1 wel-dǽd, 2–4 weldede (wel-dede, wel dede). [OE. weldǽd = MDu. weldaet (Du. weldaad; LG. woldâd, WFris. woldied), OHG. wolatât (MHG. woltât, G. wohltat), Goth. wailadēds: see WELL adv. and DEEP sb.] A good deed; a benefit.
a. 1000. Phœnix, 543. [Hie] stiʓað to wuldre wlitiʓe ʓewyrtad mid hyra wel-dædum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 346. Do well on eallum ðinum life, and we siððan æfter ðinum weldædum bliðne ðe eft ʓenimað to us.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 131. Vre lauerd seinte paul … munegeð … to godes worde and to weldede.
c. 1205. Lay., 3160. Worðschepe haue þu þire weldeda.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. III. 62. For-þi I lere ȝou, lordynges, such writynge ȝe leue, To writen in Wyndouwes of ȝoure wel dedes.
