adv. and int. Obs. exc. dial. [See AFINE adv.]
A. adv. Right well, well indeed; to good purpose, thoroughly.
c. 1330. Kyng of Tars, 780. Icham nou glad wel a fyn, Mai no mon blithur be.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2752. Now y knowe wel-a-ffyn, þy message schendeth me.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3690. For no man … maye … of the reysyns haue the wyne, Tyl grapes rype and wel a fyne Be sore empressid.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1393. The tale wol be ryff Of me, & of noon othir; I knowe riȝte wel a fyne.
1573. Tusser, Husb., Author’s Life xix. (1878), 210. A Moone,… Which well a fine me thought did shine.
1746. Exmoor Scolding (E.D.S.) 8. Chem a laced well-a-fine aready.
1882. Jago, Dial. Cornw., 309. That’s all well-a-fine.
1886. W. Somerset Word-bk., Well-a-fine, adv. phr., very well; truly; indeed.
b. Altered to well and fine.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 427. Anon as Gamelyn hadde eten wel and fyne.
c. 1400. Beryn, 303. Fawnus lete hym clatir & cry wel & fyne.
14[?]. Guy Warw. (Camb. MS.), 9086. Gye lokyd theron wele and fyne.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 6860. This knowen ȝe alle wel and fyn.
B. int. (See quot. 1880.)
1880. E. Cornw. Gloss., Well-a-fyne, a common interjection, meaning ‘it’s all very well.’
1892. ‘Q,’ Three Ships, ii. 33. Well-a-fine! What a teasin’ armful is woman, afore the first-born comes!
