ppl. a.
1. Carefully estimated; duly pondered or considered.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 70. Liuely to expresse diuers passions, by the low and lofty sounde of the well-weyed silable.
a. 1644. Quarles, Sol. Recant., vii. 34. The well-weigh’d works of the Almighties hand.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xxviii. 236. A deliberate and well-waighed Covnant.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., III. xviii. (1716), 106. The well weighed thoughts of their Hearts.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, Ded. (e) 4. A well-weigh’d Judicious Poem.
a. 1704. Locke, Cond. Underst., § 26. Well-weighed Reasons are to determine the Judgment.
1732. Pope, Ep. Bathurst, 229. To Worth or Want, well-weigh’d, be Bounty given.
1754. Miss Boothby, in Life Johnson (1805), 76. Not without deliberation and well-weighed choice.
1829. Southey, All for Love, IV. ix. Nor ever might light motive him From well-weigh’d purpose bend.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 278. The well weighed and prudent letter of William was read.
1883. R. B. Smith, Ld. Lawrence, II. 556. In this document he had set forth, in well-weighed language, alike his methods and his motives.
† 2. Of persons: Displaying deliberate purpose and balanced judgment. Obs.
1701. Collier, M. Anton. (1726), 135. He was a person modest, prudent, and well-weigh’d.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xlii. 428. This Bullinger was a right prudent, peaceable, well-weighed, and learned Man.
