vbl. sb. [Cf. F. bienêtre, mod.L. bene esse.]
Occas. written without the hyphen, as one word or two.
The state of being or doing well in life; happy, healthy or prosperous condition; moral or physical welfare (of a person or community).
a. 1613. Overbury, A Wife, etc. (1638), 46. Man did but the well-being of this life From Woman take; her Being she from Man.
1617. Woodall, Surgeon’s Mate (1639), Pref. 1. So many waies in use for the health and wel-being of mankinde.
1646. J. Benbrigge, Usura Acc., 8. The publicke-Weale wherein our owne Being, and Well-being are wrapped up.
1705. F. Fuller, Med. Gymn. (ed. 2), 32. An erect Position is essential to the well being of the Body of Man.
1713. Berkeley, Ess. Guardian, xiv. Wks. III. 191. That behaviour which best suits with the common well-being.
1741. A. Monro, Anat. of Nerves (ed. 3), 10. Circumstances … necessary to the Being or Wellbeing of this or that particular Creature.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 168. Water … is necessary to the well being of man in all ages.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, IV. iv. 121. That paternal solicitude for the well-being of his rural dependants.
1849. Cobden, Sp., 56. High prices are incompatible with the well-being of this country.
1861. Lowell, E Pluribus Unum, Writ. 1890, V. 46. A living fact with a direct bearing on the national well-being.
1865. Pusey, Truth Engl. Ch., 38. A body of faith,… which to ‘know and believe,’ is essential to the well-being of all Christians.
1883. J. M. Fothergill, Indigestion, etc. 275. Most healthy persons feel … a sense of well-being after a meal.
b. Satisfactory condition (of a thing).
1702. Calamy, Abridgm. Baxter’s Life & Times, vii. 137. He says, That Imposition of Hands is … a proper means necessary not to the Being, but the Well-being of Ordination.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxii. His loudly-expressed anxiety at every stage, respecting the safety and well-being of the two bags, the leather hat-box, and the brown-paper parcel.
1849. Ruskin, Seven Lamps, Introd. 4. The principles necessary to the well being of the art.
c. pl. (= individual instances of welfare).
a. 1672. Wilkins, Nat. Relig., 207. He is the Author of our beings and our well-beings.
1714. J. Fortescue-Aland, Pref. Fortescue’s Abs. & Lim. Mon., So that it may be said with Justice, that we owe our Beings to God, and under him our Well-beings to the Law.
