Now rare. [See WILLER 1 and cf. GOODWILLER.] One who bears good will or wishes well (to another, to a cause, etc.); one who is disposed to be kind or friendly.
In very frequent use from 1450 to 1700. Since then largely superseded by WELL-WISHER.
1448. Paston Lett., I. 69. All hys mene, and all that ben hys wele wyllers.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. xxxi. 465. Wherfore he thoughte to slee hym and alle his wel wyllars in that countrey.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv. (1586), II. 78. Those with whome we are conuersant, being rather well-willers, than true friendes.
1583. Babington, Commandm. (1590), 121. Is the diuell our friende or our foe, our welwiller or our enemie?
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. x. (1912), I. 209. No man durst shew himself a wel-willer of mine.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. iv. 242. We may have many well-willers, but very few speciall friends: well-willers be generall friends.
1659. Nicholas Papers (Camden), IV. 148. I feare our inland friends will not be sufficyent, vnlesse our well-willers abroade clubb to ye reckoninge.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VI. 61. Every body and every-thing had a black and a while side, as ill-willers and well-willers were pleased to report.
1826. Hor. Smith, Tor Hill (1838), II. 101. Evil befall the foul fiend and all his well-willers.
1875. Morris, Æneids, VI. 280. And those Well-willers’ iron beds [ferreique Eumenidum thalami].
1908. Hardy, Dynasts, III. After Scene 351. The Well-willer, the kindly Might That balances the Vast for weal.
b. Const. of, to (unto, Sc. till).
1463. Irish Acts 3 Edw. IV., c. 68. Gouuernyng … by theim that ben welwillers to the Kyng.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 78 b. Som of the welwillars of the king appollo.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 82. They … scornefullie mocke his worde, and also spitefullie hate and hurte all well willers thereof.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxii. § 14. If now the Communion booke make for them too … it may be hoped that being found such a welwiller vnto their cause, they will more fauour it then they haue done.
1634. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., v. (1906), 38. Give mee leave … as a well-willer unto you and your studies, to beare you company part of the way.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 67. Lovers and Well-willers of Art.
1698. F. B., Free but Modest Censure, 4. A friend and well-willer to that Cause.
1871. W. Alexander, Johnny Gibb, xxxvi. 253. Ye ken brawly that I never was a weel-wuller till gyaun awa’ fae the Paris’ Kirk.
1874. Swinburne, Bothw., I. i. (1882), 6. Men Who are well-willers to this common state.
† c. One who is addicted or devoted to a study (esp. astrology). Obs.
1634. Heywood & Brome, Lanc. Witches, V. L 2. Though he be no witch, he is a wel-willer to the infernal science.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 18. For the satisfaction of the well-willers to Astrology.
1654. Cleveland, Char. Diurnal-maker, 5. He is the first tincture and rudiment of a Writer, dip’t as yet in the preparative blew, like an Almanack well-willer.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. iii. 240. [He] with the Moon was more familiar Than e’er was Almanack well willer.
1668. Dryden, Dram. Poesy, 4. One that is so much a well-willer to the Satire, that he spares no man.
1671. Blagrave, Astrol. Pract. Physick, 188. To all such who are Students, and well-Willers unto this most excellent Science of Astrology.
c. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 185. A Virtuoso is a Well-willer to the Mathematics.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, II. vii. 245. To us Well-Willers nothing can be plainer, than that Comets are Flammeous, or Lucid Expirations.
