Forms: 3–7 wel, 4–6 wele, 5 welle, 5– well; Sc. and north. 5 weyll, 6–7 weill (6 weil), 6– weel. [From WELL adv. in predicative use: see sense 1.]
1. Used predicatively to denote a state of good fortune, welfare or happiness: † a. With the dative of the personal pronouns, esp. in the formula well is me, thee, him, etc., or well worth him, etc. Obs. (Cf. L. bene est mihi, etc.)
Beowulf, 186. Wel bið þæm þe mot æfter deaðdæʓe Drihten secan.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xxxiv. 21. [Hie] cwedon: wel ðe, wel ðe [L. cuge].
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xii. 13. Þæt me wel siʓ for þe, and min sawul lybbe for þinum intingam. Ibid., Num. xi. 18. Wel us wæs on Egipta lande.
12[?]. Moral Ode (Egerton MS.), 388, in O. E. Hom., I. 183. Of him to sene nis no[n] sed, wel hem is þe hine bi-healdeð.
c. 1205. Lay., 13079. Wel wurðe þe Vortiger þat þu ært icumen her.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 124. Wel is me uor mine gode, & wo is me þauh for þin vuel.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2387. ‘Wel me,’ quað he, ‘wel is me wel, ðat ic aue abiden ðus swil[c] sel!’
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5751. A voys sede, as him þoȝte, þes wordes þoru þe soun, Wel is þe, wel is þe, as he vel adoun.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xviii. 59. Suete Jhesu, wel may him be, That the may in blisse se!
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 350. Lord wel is hym þat may be of yow oon.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 256. And so at þe daie of dome, God shal not seie, Wel be þee.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., liii. A! wele were him that now were in thy plyte!
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. lxxxii. 558. Wel is me that I haue mette with yow.
1523. Skelton, Garl. of Laurel, 718. O wele were hym that herof myght be sure.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cxxviii. 2. O well is the, happie art thou.
1599. T. Storer, Life & Death Wolsey, B 3 b. But well is me where e’re my ashes lie, If one teare drop from some religious eie.
1650. J. Carstaires, Lett. (1846), 63. If so, weils me for evermore.
1690. W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 512. Well is me if this be true.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Weel’s-mon-thee! God bless you.
† b. With nouns, orig. in the dative, but latterly (by loss of inflection) capable of being construed as nominatives. Also rarely with to or for. Obs.
c. 1000. Laws Cnut, lxxxiv. (Lieberm.), 368. Wel þære heorde, ðe ʓefolʓað þam hyrde.
a. 1300. Assump. Virg., 99. Wel beo þe time þat þu were ibore, For al þis wordle were forlore.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1797. A place to pleye, ordeyned Brutus,—Corineus was wel of þat graunt—ffor to wrastle wyþ þat geaunt.
a. 1352. Minot, Poems, ii. 5. It es wrokin, I wene, wele wurth þe while.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 477. Well were that woman might weld hym for euer.
c. 1430. How Gd. Wijf tauȝte hir Douȝtir, 213, in Babees Bk. (1868), 47. For weel is þe child Þat wiþ synne wole not be filid.
c. 1450. Merlin, xiv. 225. Well were that maiden that so feire a knyght wolde requere hir of love.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys, 135. Well is that londe, and ioyous may it be, Whiche is defendyd by suche a noble estate.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Super., 141. Yet well-worth the Master-Ape.
1597. Bp. Hall, Sat., III. ii. 19. Well were thy name and thee Wert thou inditched in great secrecie.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, I. 37. In times past … Holdings were so plentifull and Holders so scarce, as well was the Land-lord who could get one to bee his Tenant.
1606. Rollock, 1 Thess., 84. Well is that man in whose mouth this word is put: and well is that people that hes a man in whose mouth the Lord hes put his word.
1678. Sprat, Serm. Gal. vi. 10, 16. Charity … is made the constant Companion … of all Virtues … and well it is for that Virtue, where it most enters, and longest stayes.
c. With the nominative forms of the personal pronouns, or with nouns clearly construed as nominatives.
In this usage freq. placed, like other adjectives, after the vb.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5765. He wende to heuene & was wel ynou.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1452. Now er men wele, now er men wa.
a. 1375. Joseph Arim., 33. He þat ledes vs þis wei vre herborwe schal wisse. Þei founden hit newely, so wel weore þei neuere. Ibid., 659. We weore so wel of vr-self, we nuste what we duden.
1406. Hoccleve, La Male Regle, 12. Whil thy power [O Health!] … Regned in me & was my gouernour, Than was I wel, tho felte I no duresse.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst., Counc. Jews, 91. Cayphas. Fare wel, sere, and wel ȝe be.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxiv. 528. Now wold I be well in my ship in the myddes of the see, for if I abyde him, he shall make an ende of me.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. iii. 38. All haill our native goddis, weill ȝe be!
a. 1547. Surrey, Æneid, II. 301. And well were they whoes handes might touch the cordes.
1563–83. Foxe, A. & M., 983. They fell to singyng…. Well was he that could reache the hyest note.
1595. J. King, Serm. Queen’s Day, in Lect. Jonas (1597), 703. O well were wee in the daies of Queene Elizabeth.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem., 183. Wel was he that could hide himself in a corner.
1688. Penton, Guardian’s Instruction, 24. He was never well but when he was managing or talking of his Dogs.
1818. Shelley, To Mary ——, 11. Mary dear, come to me soon, I am not well whilst thou art far.
2. In favor, in good standing or estimation, on good terms, with (a person). Also rarely with together.
Originally with to be (see also the special senses below); now common only with keep or stand (see STAND v. 15 e), with approach to an adverbial force. The gap in the evidence between the 15th and 18th cent. is remarkable.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9521. He had an anlepe son, Þat wit his fader was sa wele Þat [he] wist his wisdom ilk dele.
c. 1300. Havelok, 2878. She is fayr, and she is fre,… Þertekene she is wel with me.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 152. There she [Meed] is wel with þe kynge, wo is þe rewme.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 1948. That man was well with god all-myȝt.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 26. She was fayre and comly, and well was with the kyng almyhty.
1709. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), III. 76. There was nothing I outwardly omitted to be well with her Majesty.
1739. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist., XVII. ii. (ed. 2), VIII. 30. Antigonus … had … intreated Philip to keep well with Aratus.
1741. Chesterf., Lett., 8 Aug. The last [report] I had from Mr. Maittaire was so good a one, that you and I are at present extremely well together. Ibid. (1750), 26 April. He is well with … many people of the first distinction at Paris.
1753. Richardson, Grandison, II. xii. 87. That he might stand well with a son, whose character … made his father half afraid of him.
1770. in Earl Malmesbury, Diaries & Corr. (1844), I. 66. For although they are by no means well together, yet they would both find their advantages in a war.
1811. Ora & Juliet, II. 66. She chose to keep well with the Dudleys in all appearance.
1881. Mrs. Lynn Linton, My Love, I. i. 13. He desired to keep well with Stella’s father.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, xiv. The new heir … had good reasons for standing well with his neighbours.
fig. 1820. T. Brown, Lect. Philos. Human Mind, IV. c. 608. ‘The true secret of happiness,’ says Fontenelle, ‘is to be well with our own mind.’
b. spec. On terms of intimate friendship or familiarity with (a woman).
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., V. iii. But it’s so natural for a prude to be malicious when a man endeavours to be well with anybody but herself.
1784. R. Bage, Barham Downs, I. 91. You must know Sir, I have the honour to be well with Mrs. Gadbury, Lady Conollan’s woman.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, III. v. ¶ 2. All our set were well with some fine woman or other. Ibid., III. vii. ¶ 3. Do not suppose that you are well with a Duchess.
† c. Pleased or satisfied with (oneself). Also well to do. Obs.
1786. Mrs. A. M. Bennett, Juvenile Indiscr., I. 11. He could not avoid being extremely well with himself.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., vii. (1901), I. 62. He went on ’Change with … a strut that plainly told how well he was to do with himself.
1865. ‘Annie Thomas,’ On Guard, I. iv. 61. He … lashed his horses afresh, and they rattled over the stones in Piccadilly at a rate he would not have driven them had he been well with himself just then.
† d. Without const. In favor. Obs.
1694. M. Prior, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 213. Neither the Dauphin or Monsr Luxemberg are very well in Court.
1752. Chesterf., Lett., 22 Sept. However, be as well at court as you possibly can. Ibid. In short, make yourself well there, without making yourself ill somewhere else.
1776. in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), I. 203. I have the pleasure to inform you that I am extremely well in the opinion of the senatorial part.
3. In a state of prosperity or affluence; more explicitly well in goods or cash, well in the world; = WELL OFF 1 c. (See also WELL TO DO, TO LIVE, TO PASS.) Now rare exc. in well to do, well off.
To leave (a person) well, to be well left: to leave or be left well off by devise or inheritance.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 68. Thanked be ffortune and hire false wheel, That noon estat assureth to be weel.
1463. Ashby, Prisoner’s Refl., 78. Whiche greuyd me sore … To be in pouert and of goodes bad, That before was well in goodes and rest.
1606. Dekker, Sev. Sinnes, V. (Arb.), 36. Richmens sonnes that were left well, and had more money giuen by will, then they had wit how to bestow it.
1682. in N. & Q., 12th Ser. IX. 436/2. He has left euery body that is related to him good Legaseys and his wife extreame well.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Coronat. Solyman, 130. A Family that is not very well in the World.
1746. W. Horsley, Fool (1748), I. 189. Vanesius was well in Cash.
1780. Mirror, No. 97. He imperceptibly became, ‘in easy circumstances, well in the world, of great credit, [etc.].
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, II. vii. ¶ 4. He must be very well in the world.
1835. Politeness & Good-breeding, 97. Two boys … the one high-born as to rank, and … the other well in the world as to riches.
1875. [see LEAVE v.1 2 b].
† b. Well and warm: in comfortable and affluent circumstances. Obs.
1571. Campion, Hist. Irel., II. ix. (1633), 114. But you are well and warme and so hold you.
a. 1670. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), I. 129. A. W. seemed very sorry at this news, because he was well and warme where he was.
1673. Hickeringill, Greg. F. Greyb., 4. I shall not get a penny by your custome; neither do I desire it. For I am well and warm.
c. Favorably circumstanced; having things as one wishes them to be; = WELL OFF 1 a. Now rare.
c. 1440. Partonope, 5281. When wymmen be well they can not cese.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 278. An. Wil’t please your worship to come in, Sir? Sl. No, I thank you forsooth, hartely; I am very well. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., II. v. 33. We vse To say, the dead are well.
1643. Burroughes, Exp. 1st 3 ch. Hosea, II. v. 351. You who are thorough Gods mercy in his way, you are now well, know when you are well, and keep you wel.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), III. 24. I am afraid we have seen our best days, we knew not when we were well.
1784. R. Bage, Barham Downs, I. 64. But every body, Mrs. Susan, don’t know when they are well.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., Academies, ¶ 2. Not without a little hesitation—for apparently they found themselves very well as they were …—they consented.
4. In a sound or undamaged state; spec. in marine insurance, of a vessel.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 475. God shewed meruaile in apert. Þe bell was wele al swythe.
1580. H. Smith, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 470. Wee were afraid that she [the ship] had taken some hurt, but she was well.
1667. Earl Orrery, St. Lett. (1742), 288. He … came … to inform me … that the Rupert was driven from them by force of weather, but doubts not, that she is well.
1848. J. Arnould, Marine Insur., I. 586. In order to protect himself from liability to any loss before a given day, the underwriter frequently causes a warranty to be inserted in the policy that the ship was ‘all safe,’ or ‘well,’ on the day.
5. Sound in health; free or recovered from sickness or infirmity: more explicitly well in health. Const. of (a sickness, wound). Also not well (Sc. no weel) = UNWELL a. 2 († formerly with of a sudden, o’ th’ sudden).
1555. Card. Pole, in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1913), July, 529. Thoȝ my passage over the see was not so quyet … yet after I was londed I found myself very wel.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 428 b. She was not very wel in health.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 238. Not sicke my Lord, vnlesse it be in minde, Nor wel, vnlesse in minde. Ibid. (1598), Merry W., I. i. 80. M. Page. I am glad to see your Worships well. Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, IV. i. 63. Is my Lord well, that he doth speake so wide?
1634. Milton, Comus, 1000. Where young Adonis oft reposes, Waxing well of his deep wound.
1650. Cromwell, Lett., 30 July, in Carlyle. The Major-General will, I believe, within few days be well to take the field.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 1 Dec. He … drinks no claret yet, for fear of his rheumatism, of which he is almost well.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, 220. This shall be yours when you bring back My husband safe and well.
1831. Scott, Ct. Robt., xxxii. Ursel … is restored to you well in health.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xxiii. I hope you are well. I am happy to see you.
1864. Trollope, Small Ho. Allington, xx. ‘The fact is this; I’m very well, you know;—as strong as a horse.’ ‘You look pretty well.’
(b) 1608. Middleton, Trick to catch Old-one, V. H 2 b. Troth I am not well of a suddaine.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Wit without Money, III. i. A proper Gentleman: I am not well o’ th’ sudden.
1667. Dryden, Secret Love, I. iii. Dear Asteria lead me, I am not well o’th sudden. (She faints.)
† b. Well in (one’s) wits: of sound mind. Obs.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtier, I. (1900), 90. A manne may assuredly thinke him not to be wel in his wittes.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, II. viii. 206. What man that were wel in his wittes would say to kinges [etc.].
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 4. If I shuld say it, rather I (than you) might be thought scarce wel in my wits.
1645. Sir R. Weston, Husb. Brabant (1652), 26. Such profitable Terms, as no man, that is well in his wits, but will venture at them.
1686. W. Clagett, 17 Serm. (1699), App. 18. No body, well in his wits can be misled by it.
1720. Waterland, Eight Serm., 90. A Man would hardly be supposed well in his Wits, that should seriously entertain any the least Doubt … concerning it.
c. Used attributively, esp. with man († sometimes hyphened). Now only U.S.
1628. Digby, Voy. Mediterr. (Camden), 14. I tooke a view of my well men.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 95. Our division of the living is not so much into Physitian, and Patient, as into well Physitian, and sick Physitian.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 12 Feb. In spite,… ill people would breathe in the faces, out of their windows, of well people going by.
1672. Wiseman, Wounds, II. vii. 50. He … could take no rest until his wounded finger was digested, yet his pain was not so great in his Wound, as in his well fingers.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Cock & Fox, 401. But neither Pills nor Laxatives I like, They only serve to make a well-man sick.
1737. B. Franklin, Poor Richard (1890), 73. Poor Dick eats like a well man, and drinks like a sick.
1759. Ann. Reg., 62. One of the ships … with no more than 65 guns … and but 472 well men at quarters.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. xlv. 80. Of those who are alive, there are not well ones enough to take care of the sick.
1874. Howells, Chance Acquaint., iv. (1882), 97. Calling Kitty’s attention to his ingenuity by a pressure with her well foot. Ibid. (1879), L. Aroostook (1883), II. 10. They welcomed him back to animation with the patronage with which well people hail a convalescent.
1900. ‘Mark Twain,’ Man that corrupted, etc., 128. Two days later he ‘began to eat like a well man.’
d. absol. (as pl.). Those who are sound in health.
1676. Princ. Chymists Lond., 104. For our S. P. never worketh on the Well, either by Vomit or Stool.
1783. Johnson, Let. Dr. Brocklesby, 29 Aug., in Boswell. it is great consolation to the well, and still greater to the sick.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. xlii. 69. Leaving about 30 sick, and about an equal number of well to take care of and protect them.
1886. Besant, Childr. Gibeon, xxv. Every body feels it, the sick and the well, the patient and the nurses.
1908. Westm. Gaz., 22 Feb., 16/1. It should be the business of the doctors to prevent the well from getting sick.
e. Well day: a day on which one is free from sickness, esp. from an attack of an intermittent disorder. (Sometimes hyphened.)
1652. Wood, Life, Aug. (O. H. S.), I. 176. What in the well-days his stomach had contracted, he would on the sick-day vomit it out.
a. 1657. R. Loveday, Lett. (1663), 175. I scarce enjoy’d one well day in ten Weeks absence.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 96. The 30th was my Well-day, and I went abroad with my Gun.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), II. 113. As it was one of his well days, he walked in without help.
1799. Underwood, Dis. Childhood (ed. 4), I. 301. Repeated cold and hot fits … with one or more well days between them.
1869. Carlyle, New Lett. (1904), II. 251. I struggle to hang by my ‘Work’ … and generally do get a particle or two of it done every well-day.
f. Of a person’s health or spirits: Sound, good. Of sickness: Cured.
1712. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 9 Oct. Lord-treasurer has had an ugly fit of the rheumatism, but it is now near quite well.
1760–2. Goldsm., Cit. W., v. His health, thank Heaven, is still pretty well.
1801. Eliz. Helme, St. Marg. Cave, III. x. 186. Your health is, I fear, not well.
1836. Southey, Cowper’s Wks., III. 137. Yet he described his spirits as tolerably well in the day.
1847. Surtees, Hawbuck Grange, iv. 74. Indeed he had fully determined, if his cold was well enough, to ride over to Snailswell.
6. In the phrase (It is) well (that) or to: a. Advisable, desirable, to be recommended.
1475. Bk. Noblesse, 82. It is welle to undrestonde that ye haue no protectoure, kepar, ne defendour but it come of God.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. vii. 2. Then ’twer well, It were done quickly.
1820. Keats, Eve St. Agnes, xxxviii. If thou think’st well To trust, fair Madeline, to no rude infidel.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xlvi. I never thought to look at him again,… but it’s well I should, perhaps.
1864. ‘Annie Thomas,’ D. Donne, III. 97. Suggestions as to the seat it would be well for him to take when ‘the little mare she jumbed.’
1910. Encycl. Brit., II. 28/1. When a trout rises it is well to count ‘ten’ before striking.
b. Gratifying, fortunate, lucky; forming a matter for satisfaction or thankfulness.
1665. Dk. Ormonde in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 13. It is well wee have time to looke about us before the next assault.
1701. De Foe, Trueborn Eng., 23. ’Tis well that Virtue gives Nobility.
1727. Atterbury, Serm. (1734), I. 161. It is well they afford us both these.
1779. Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 271. Such a dinner as we had to-day! it was well it was a christening!
1842. Dickens, Amer. Notes, xiv. It was well for us, that we were in this humour, for the road [etc.].
1859. Tennyson, Guinevere, 421. Well is it that no child is born of thee.
1865. Le Fanu, Guy Deverell, III. 149. It is well when these sudden collapses of the overwrought nerves occur.
c. As well … if or that, in preceding senses.
1753–4. Richardson, Grandison, II. xxvii. 209. Perhaps in this case … it were as well they did not.
1801. Marvellous Love-Story, II. 288. I think it would be as well if John was to go off … this afternoon.
1889. Mrs. E. Kennard, Landing a Prize, vii. (1891), 56. Perhaps it was just as well, on the whole, that Ebenezer remained in his cabin.
7. Of a state of things, work, an undertaking, etc.: Satisfactory; of such a nature, or in such a condition, as to meet with approval or give content.
1381. in Knighton, Chron. (Rolls), II. 139. For if the ende be wele, than is alle wele.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 14. If it be thynne, sowe thycker the nexte yere; and if it be well, holde his hande there other yeres.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 763. He can neuer leue warke whylis it is wele.
1580. H. Smith, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 471. We did tarrie for her to know whether all was well with her.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, V. 76. The warre they deeme not well for them.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. i. 45. Goodmorrow (good Lieutenant) I am sorrie For your displeasure: but all will sure be well.
1620. T. May, Heir, I. (1633), B 1. That’s well, that’s very well.
1746. Francis, trans. Hor., Sat., II. vi. 10. I have enough in my possessing, ’Tis well.
1798–1803. Jane Austen, Northanger Abb., x. Though it is vastly well to be here for a few weeks, we would not live here for millions.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., Wife (1821), I. 35. She saw … with the quick eyes of affection, that all was not well with him.
1859. E. FitzGerald, Omar Khayam, lxiv. He’s a Good Fellow, and ’twill all be well.
Prov. 1381. [see above].
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 21. Well aunt (quoth Ales) All is well that endes well.
1600. F. L., Ovid’s Remedie of Love, etc., To Rdr. E 3 b. Yet take this old Prouerbe with a right application … All is well that endeth well. And so end I.
1724. P. Walker, Peden (1827), Pref. p. xxvii. The old Saying holds, that All’s well that ends well.
1905. ‘G. Thorne,’ Lost Cause, iv. ‘All ’s well that ends well!’ You won’t have the services disturbed again.
b. of material things.
1561. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 118. It [sc. a cheese] is, saith an other, well as can bee.
1595. in Archaeologia, LXIV. 389. Because the walles ryse and be not well nor all of one collore, the most be wheyted at the plasterers charge.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. i. 172. Kate. The meate was well…. Pet. I tell thee Kate, ’twas burnt and dried away.
1599. Minsheu, Span. Dial., 3. This water is now well [Ya esta buena est agua], you may now wel wash Sir.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., ciii. Were it not sinfull then striuing to mend, To marre the subiect that before was well.
1761. Foote, Lyar, I. ii. (1786), 14. Do you know now, that … I honour the Park? forty thousand million of times preferable to the play house! Don’t you think so, my dear? Miss Godfrey. They are both well in their way.
absol. 1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 78. Sweet Censors take my silly worst for well.
c. To let (or leave) well alone: to refrain from trying to make better that which is already well.
1740. Cheyne, Regimen, Pract. Ess. p. xxxvi. When a Person is tolerably well, and is subject to no painful or dangerous Distemper, I think it his Duty … to let Well alone.
1830. [see LET v. 18 b].
a. 1865. Mrs. Gaskell, Wives & Dau., xxxii. Why can’t you leave well alone?
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, xii. Tom was very near yielding…. But Mr. Carroll could not let well alone, and unfortunately be went on, ‘Whom am I to believe, [etc.].’
d. All’s well: a sentry’s reply when he has received the password in answer to his challenge. (See also quot. 1769.)
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), All’s well! an acclamation of safety or security pronounced by a centinel … at the time of striking the bell each half-hour during … the night watch.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., s.v. Pass, All’s Well, a term used by a British sentry after he has challenged a person that comes near his post, [etc.].
1803. T. Dibdin, Engl. Fleet, III. ii. Duet, ‘Who goes there? Stranger—quickly tell;’ ‘A friend,’—the word—‘Good night—All’s well.’
e. Sc. Quite ready. rare.
1805. A. Scott, Poems, 40. With hunger smit, may hap they seem to feel, Or cry, perhaps, oh! is the hodgil weel!
1825. Jamieson, s.v. Weill, Is the denner weel?
8. In conformity with approved standards of action or conduct; right, proper. Now arch.
1534. Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.), II. 315. John … toke the seid iiij horsez … and theym impounded, as well and lawfull it was … for hym to doo.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, II. v. N ij. That is well, or well done, let hym be brought in.
1713. Addison, Cato, III. ii. O Portius, was this well!—to frown on her, That lives upon thy Smiles!
† b. qualifying a noun of action. Obs. (For the similar use with verbal sbs., see WELL adv. 30.)
1583. in Neal, Hist. Puritans (1754), I. 267. The archbishop has power to make laws for the well government of the church.
1635. Strafford, Lett. (1739), I. 482. That he see to the upholding of my Houses and well Usage of my Grounds.
1677. Earl Essex, in Essex Papers (Camden), II. 148. The well payment of their Rents depending much upon the well paying of the Army.
c. Good; of a character or quality to which no exception can be taken. Now arch. or Obs.
1661. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 70. The things [clauses in the Act] seem to me generally well and desirable. Ibid., 344. Which thing, as it hath a well and certain foundation, so it is your wisdome [etc.].
1671. Milton, Samson, 1723. Nothing is here for tears,… no weakness, no contempt, Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair.
1695. A. Charlett, in Wood, Life (O. H. S.), III. 499. His behaviour was very well during his Illnesse; was very patient and Quiet.
1766. Goldsm., Vicar, xi. Our honest neighbour’s goose and dumplings were fine…. It is true, his manner of telling stories was not quite so well. Ibid. (1773), Stoops to Conq., II. i. Yet the fellow, but for his unaccountable bashfulness, is pretty well too. He has good sense.
1780. Johnson, in Boswell (1887), IV. 24. Yes, they are very well, Sir; but you may observe in what manner they are well. They are the forcible verses of a man of a strong mind, but not accustomed to write verse.
1798–1803. Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, v. It is really very well for a novel.
9. † a. Of good or satisfactory appearance. Obs.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. v. 119. Hee’ll make a proper man:… His leg is but so so, and yet ’tis well. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., V. iii. 20. But here it [sc. a statue] is:… behold, and say ’tis well.
c. 1710. Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 248. In this parke stands another pallace St. James, wch is very well.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 162. He is a lively Gentleman, well enough in his Person. Ibid. (1748), Clarissa (1768), I. 7. But then, stepping to the glass, she complimented herself, ‘That she was very well.’
b. Well to see, well to be seen: (of a person) good to look upon, comely. rare.
1804. R. Anderson, Cumbld. Ball. (c. 1850), 111. To be seer she’s a sarvant, but weel to be seen.
1808–9. Lamb, Poetry for Children, Three Friends, 23. Well to do and well to see Were the parents of all three.
1902. Crockett, Dark o’ Moon, vii. In person she was short, well-to-see, rosy-checked, buxom, [etc.].
10. In concessive use, followed by an objection or contrary view expressed or implied: a. It is all very well: it is right and proper in itself or under certain circumstances.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 82. And where as they saye that the Gospell must be taught after the interpretations approued by the churche (that is very well) but all the stryfe is, which is the trewe church.
1779. Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 283. It is all very well, sir; I know what you will say—that you [etc.].
1864. Trollope, Small Ho. Allington, xxiii. That’s all very well, Amelia.
1879. Ruskin, Lett., 31 Oct. Wks. 1908, XXXIV. 238. Written contracts are all very well, but if the contractor stops payment—where are you?
1905. ‘G. Thorne,’ Lost Cause, v. ‘Oh, it’s all very well, Vicar,’ said good Mrs. Stiffe; ‘we know you never say anything against any one.
b. He (it, etc.) is all very well: there is no fault to be found with him, it, etc.
For the force of the appended phrase in his (her, its, their) way see WAY sb. 14 f.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Parish, ii. As to the curate, he was all very well; but … the curate wasn’t a novelty, and the other clergyman was.
1837. Partington’s Brit. Cycl. Nat. Hist., III. 746/2. As a curiosity the black swan is all very well … but it has none of the beauty and grace of the white swan.
1898. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xxvii. 288. Mr. Cornish is all very well in his way. But we’re not fools.
c. Similarly with well enough.
1798. Wordsw., Goody Blake, 37. ’Twas well enough, when summer came…. But when the ice [etc.].
1823. Scott, Quentin D., Introd. Their higher wines, indeed, are well enough … yet I cannot but remember the generous qualities of my sound old Oporto.
1842. Dickens, Amer. Notes, xv. This is well enough, but nevertheless I cannot … incline towards the Shakers.
d. Without vb.: Well and good. Also (? Obs. or dial.) good and well.
1699. Boyer, Royal Dict., Eng.-Fr., Well and good, à la bonne heure.
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas, X. x. (1782), IV. 71. My mother’s predictions were always favourable to those who solicited them: if they proved true, good and well; but when they came back to reproach her [etc.].
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, X. x. (Rtldg.), 364. My mother always sold good luck for good money; if the accomplishment trod on the heels of the prediction, well and good.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., viii. (1901), I. 74. These people arrive to-day. If you … can find anything out about them, you know, well and good.
1888. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, vii. ‘If you like to bow and scrape to rich people, well and good,’ I said.
e. For very well, without verb, see WELL adv. 25.
† 11. Quite sufficient (as a statement). Obs.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low C., 152. I have been often told that there are in Paris a million and a half of people, whereas it is well if there be half a million. Ibid., 379. A free State … as the Inhabitants boast, for above 1000 years, but its well if half so long.
12. Easy (to deal with). rare–1.
1816. Jane Austen, Persuasion, iii. In the way of business, gentlemen of the navy are well to deal with.
