Well adv.

Forms: α. 1–7 wel (1 uel, 3 wuel, wel), 1, 5– well (2 wæll, 5 whell), 5 welle. β. 4–5 (8–9 Sc. and north.) weel, 4 wiel, Sc. 5 veill, 5–6 weill, 6 wyell, 7 weell (weall); 4–5, 7 (6 Sc.) wele, 5 weile, Sc. veyle, 6 weele. γ. (Chiefly north.) 4–5 will (5–6 wyll), 5 wil, 5–6 wyl; 4 wille, 5 wile, wyle, wylle. See also WOL adv. [Common Teutonic: OE. wel, well = OFris. wel (NFris. wel, well, WFris. wel, wol), MDu. and Du. wel, OS. wel, ON. and Icel. vel (Norw., Da. vel, Sw. väl); also OS. wela, wola (MLG. and LG. wala, wal), OHG. wela, wala, wola, wol (MHG. wole, wol, G. wohl), Goth. waila. The stem is regarded as identical with that of the verb WILL.

  An early lengthening of the vowel is indicated by the ME. weel (wiel, wele, etc.), which appears in northern and Scottish texts from the 14th cent., and is still the current form in Scottish, northern, and north midland dialects. The forms will and WOL probably originated in unstressed positions.]

  I.  1. In accordance with a good or high standard of conduct or morality; in a way that is morally good. Chiefly with do vb.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, xxxv. 4. [He] nalde onʓeotan ðæt [he] wel dyde [L. bene ageret].

a. 1000.  Doomsday, 119. Welan ah in wuldre se nu wel þenceð!

a. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xii. 12. Hyt ys alyfed on reste-daʓum wel to donne [L. bene facere].

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud), an. 1086. Litel rihtwisnesse wæs on þisum lande … buton mid munecan ane þær þær hi wæll ferdon.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 131. Ðe mon þe wel deð, he wel ifehð.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 37. Ne scal na mon … slawen wel to done.

c. 1300.  Relig. Songs, i. in Owl & Night., etc. (Percy Soc.), 63. Mon, let sunne and Iustes thine; Wel thu do and wel thu thench.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 288. He says he has no wille to fele Ne to understand for to do wele. Ibid., 1987. Þe last day of man is hyd,… For he shuld kepe wele al þe other dayes.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet, vii. 12. For þi lokys þat ye do wel.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., 1. Þerfore gouerne the wele the while til I come home aȝen.

c. 1481.  Caxton, Dialogues, 47. Qui bien fera bien aura, Who doth well shall well haue.

1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 21. Doo well, and haue well, men say.

a. 1591.  H. Smith, Serm. (1601), 299. It is better to doe well then to doe good: for a man cannot offend in doing well.

1663.  S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr. (1687), 355. Let me see a Man that keeps his shop and buys and sells, and yet lives well and keeps the Laws of Christ.

a. 1703.  Burkitt, On N. T., Mark x. 17. It is not talking well, and professing well, but doing well, that entitles us to heaven and eternal life.

1805.  Wordsw., Prelude, VIII. 527. That, by acting well, And understanding, I should learn to love The end of life.

1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 606. If thou livest well and teachest well, thou wilt be a judge of all; if thou teachest well and livest ill, thine own only.

  b.  Satisfactorily in respect of conduct or action.

a. 1000.  Riddles, l[i]. 5. He him wel hereð, þeowaþ him ʓeþwære.

c. 1325.  Spec. Gy Warw., 82. Wisdom in godes drede Vse wel, þat be my rede.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 968. And they him sworen his axyng faire and weel.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 4838. To loue god & serue hym wyle.

1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 65. Deuoute redyng … causeth moche grace and comforte to the soulle yf yt be well and dyscretely vsed.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 60. The same Archas gouerned hym so wele and so wisely that [etc.].

1526.  Tindale, 1 Tim. v. 17. The seniours that rule wele are worthy of double honoure.

1534.  Cal. Irish Chancery Rolls, I. 11. Ye swear that ye well and trulie shall serve our Sovraigne Lord the King.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 349. If any charge do come vpon the king and his realme, howe it may be well and honourably supported.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 212, ¶ 4. A Woman must think well to look well.

1881.  Med. Temp. Jrnl., XLIX. 13. He there worked well and never touched alcohol.

1883.  Whitelaw, Sophocles, Antigone, 1323. ’Tis counselled well, if well with ill can be.

  † c.  Justifiably, rightly. Obs.^–1

1382.  Wyclif, Jonah iv. 4. And the Lord saide, Gessist thou, wher thou art wel [L. bene] wroth? Ibid., 9.

  2.  In such a manner as to constitute good treatment or confer a benefit; kindly, considerately; generously; charitably.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, cxx[i]v. 4. Wel doa [L. bene fac], dryhten, godum & rehtum on heortan.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xli. 304. Far mid us, ðæt we ðe mæʓen wel don.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. v. 44. Doð wel þam þe eow yfel doð.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 59. Þene Mon he lufede and welbiþohte.

1424.  E. E. Wills, 57. No man merueil þogh I do well to him, for, [etc.].

1540.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 270. Your grace was veray moch displeasyd Saying I am not well handelyd.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Bene, To be well vsed for little coste.

1712.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 11 Oct. Opportunities will often fall in my way, if I am used well.

1896.  Gladstone, in Daily Chron., 8 Oct. (1903), 5/2. My danger is the danger of being too well used … by my biographers.

  b.  To deserve well of: to be entitled to gratitude or good treatment from (a person). See DESERVE 3 b. Cf. L. bene mereri de, F. bien mériter de.

1585–6.  Earl Leycester, Corr. (Camden), 423. He can tell you whether I dyd use Paul Buis, and deservyd well at his handes, or no.

1709.  Addison, Tatler, No. 117, ¶ 1. A great Man, who has deserved well of his Country.

1709–1840.  [see DESERVE v. 3].

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. ii. You do right, child,… to speak well of those who deserve well of you.

  c.  With verbs of greeting, receiving, etc.: In a kindly and friendly manner; with friendly words; with favor or welcome.

  Cf. to stand well with, s.v. WELL a. 2.

c. 1000.  in Kemble, Cod. Diplom., IV. 214. Eadward king gret wel Willem biscop.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud), an. 675. Ic Agatho … grete wel seo wurðfulle Æðelred. Ibid., an. 1137. He for to Romne & þær wæs wæl underfangen fram þe pape.

c. 1205.  Lay., 15084. Uortigerne … grette wel Hengest.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1420. Laban and his moder … fagneden wel ðis sondere man.

c. 1325.  Spec. Gy Warw., 52. [I] grete þe wel, fadyr myn.

1443.  Hen. VI., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 79. Right dere in God we grete you wele.

1483.  Rich. III., Ibid., Ser. II. I. 159. Right reverend Fadre in God, right trusty and welbeloved, we grete you wele.

1706.  trans. De Piles’ Art Painting, 336. He was well receiv’d at Court, and in favour with Four Kings successively.

1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, v. You receive him very well considering you do not like him?

  d.  With verbs denoting feeling or intention.

1659.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), IV. 87. Not as intending well to the King, for they are vowed rebells.

1661.  J. Barwick, in Extr. S. P. rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 128. A Gentleman that wishes well to the King.

1729.  T. Innes, Crit. Ess. (1879), 17. At least I meant well, and aimed only at truth.

1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., iv. I am an Englishman, and wish dearly well to my country.

1836.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Shops & Tenants. We wished the man well, but we trembled for his success.

1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xxv. There is a great difference between wishing well to a cause and supporting it in person.

  e.  With verbs of thinking or speaking († also of hearing) of a person, etc.

1445.  trans. Claudian, in Anglia, XXVIII. 269. Easyly with the thus thi men live, thou seith of hem evir wele.

c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, III. xxxiii. 102. Wheþer þei say wel, wheþer þei say evel, þou art not þerfore a noþer man.

1526.  Tindale, 1 Tim. v. 10. Soche a wone as was … well reported off in good workes.

1538.  Elyot, Dict., Add., Bene audire, to be well spoken of.

1576.  R. Peterson, G. della Casa’s Galateo, 22. Eache man desireth to bee well thought of.

1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax, Answ. Let. A iv b. If you haue heard so well of my poore house.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 37. Signior Baptista, of whom I heare so well. Ibid. (1610), Temp., II. ii. 95. His forward voyce now is to speake well of his friend.

1698.  M. Henry, Christianity no Sect (1847), 199. Ill-will never speaks well.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. xlviii. 388. One would be willing to be well thought of by the worthy.

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xliii. Papa thinks well of Mrs. Pipchin.

1865.  [see 2 b].

1895.  Bookman, Oct., 12/2. ‘The Ebb Tide’ was practically by Mr. Stevenson himself, and he was disposed to think very well of it.

  f.  With equanimity or good nature; without resentment. Chiefly with take.

  † To take (a thing) well a worth: see WORTH sb.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, III. x. 133. They did not suffer her to go out of her chamber; which she took not well.

1923.  R. A. Freeman, Dr. Thorndike’s Case-Bk., i. 31. ‘And how did the coloured gentleman take it?’ ‘Not very well.’

  3.  With courage and spirit; gallantly, bravely.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 24. So many douhty dyntes was bituex tham tueye, Wele þei did togidere, better may noman seye.

1447.  Shillingford, Lett. (Camden), 20. Douryssh acquytted hym well.

c. 1450.  Merlin, vi. 97. Alle the barouns that weren of valoure and wele hadde don. Ibid., xxxii. 654. Sir Gawein and his felowes dide merveiles and wele.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., I. i. 134. Hee that escapes me without some broken limbe, shall acquit him well.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VI. 29. Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought The better fight.

1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxi. Well and chivalrous did De Bracy that day maintain the fame he had acquired.

  II.  4. Faithfully, heedfully, carefully, attentively: a. With verbs of holding, keeping, attending to, etc.

c. 831.  in Sweet, O. E. Texts, 446. Ic … bebiade Eadwealde … ðet he ðis wel healde.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 1236. Þreo tacen … þæs þe hi hyra þeodnes wel wordum and weorcum willan heoldon.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 109. Hit is … nytlic þæt hie heora fulwiht-hadas wel ʓehealdan.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1033. Þatt follkess haliȝdomess … wærenn inn an arrke þær Wel & wurrþlike ȝemmde.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 209. And preide, he shulde yeme hire wel.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6849. Haldes þis wille [Gött. wele], i bid yow now. Ibid. (c. 1375), 438 (Fairf.). He gaf an mast of al þat wele hif he coude a keppet hit weel.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 118. Ȝe suld … Haiff chosyn ȝow a king, that mycht Have haldyn veyle the land in rycht.

1433.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 477/1. And well and truly kepe the seid godes.

1482.  Cely Papers (Camden), 124. I hawhe promysyd hym a bow and I trwste that he wyll se whell to yowr hors.

1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 130. To cart gap and barne, set a guide to looke weele.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. 53. Touchyng seede, this is to be well seen to.

1611.  Bible, Jer. xxxix. 12. Take him and looke well to him, and doe him no harme.

1781.  Burns, Til go & be a Sodger, 6. I gat some gear wi’ meikle care, I held it weel thegither.

  b.  With verbs of observing, considering, studying, etc.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 203. Mid þy þe þa Cristenan leode þæt wel sceawodan, ða ʓesawon hie [etc.].

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1829. Wel birrþ uss lokenn þær whatt uss Þatt name maȝȝ bitacnenn.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 202. And gyff ony thar-at war wrath, Thai watyt hym wele with gret scaith.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W. (Fairf.), 335. Of thyn answere avise the ryght weel.

c. 1400.  Rule of St. Benet (Prose), 11. And tat ye recorde wel þe cumantemens of god.

1436.  Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 191. Loke wele aboute,… Unfayllyngly, unfeynynge, and unfeynte.

1513.  Bradshaw, St. Werburge, 1338. She well consydered with due dyscrecyon Of this present lyfe the great wretchydnesse.

a. 1529.  Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, iii. 97. Note and marke wyl thys parcele.

1538.  Starkey, England, 117. Me thynke you pondur not al wel and depely.

1603.  Harsnet, Popish Impost., 36. Heere is her lesson read ouer: and marke the scholler how well she conned it.

1611.  Bible, Prov. xiv. 15. The prudent man looketh well to his going.

1746.  Francis, trans. Hor., Epist., I. vii. 117. Philip, who well observ’d our simple Guest, Laughs in his Sleeve.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 610. Feversham … had looked at himself well in the glass.

1873.  Punch, 4 Jan., 9/2. After thinking the matter well over, we have determined not to compete.

  5.  In a way appropriate to the facts or circumstances; fittingly, properly: a. With verbs of saying or speaking. † Also rarely in other contexts (quot. c. 1175).

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxi. 151. Be ðære ildinge suiðe wel Dryhten ðreade Iudeas, ða he ðurh ðone witʓan cuæð.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 547. Ðæt is wel cweden swa ʓewritu secgað, þæt [etc.].

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John iv. 17. Cueð to hir se hælend, uel ðu cuede þætte ic ne hafu uer.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 9. Wel þæt wæs ʓecweden, forþon þe [etc.].

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 83. He com bi þis forwundede mon. Wel he com bi him, þa he bicom alswich alse he.

13[?].  K. Alis., 3097. Þou hast wel spoken, Dalmadas.

1340.  Ayenb., 19. Zuych folie is wel y-clepede onwythede.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xv. 7. Ysay, the prophete, propheciede wel of ȝou.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 1835. Whanne the Sowdon had hard hym sey so will, ‘Generydes,’ quod he, ‘I geue yow grace.’

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, X. xxxvi. 471. This is wel sayd, saide Morgan le fay.

1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtier, I. (1900), 94. And you say wel, that [etc.].

1590.  Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., V. i. Wel said, let there be a fire presently.

1610.  Donne, Pseudo-Martyr, 170. Sepulueda, whom I cited before, saies well to this purpose; That the soule doth exercise, Herile Imperium vpon the body.

1638.  Junius, Paint. Ancients, 7. It is well observed by an ancient Orator [etc.].

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. ii. § 1. If so, as Maimonides well observes, the whole Religion of Moses is overthrown.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., VIII. 153. Well hast thou spoke (Euryalus replies).

1779.  Mirror, No. 37, ¶ 8. The delightful occupations of a country life, which Cicero well said … are next in kindred to true philosophy.

1809.  Roland, Fencing, 119. It was well suggested … that it would be better [etc.].

1855.  Paley, Æschylus (1861), Pref. p. vi., note. Hermann himself well says of certain critics of the old school [etc.].

1883.  Whitelaw, Sophocles, Electra, 252. If I speak not well Have thou thy way.

  b.  With verbs expressing fitness, suitability, etc.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 3. Wel þe ʓeriseð, þæt þu heafod sie healle mærre.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 13. Wel þæt ʓeras þæt heo wære eaðmod. Ibid. Wel þæt eac ʓedafenaþ þæt he to eorðan astiʓe.

c. 1050.  O. E. Chron. (MS. C.), an. 1036. Syððan hine man byriʓde, swa him wel ʓebyrede, ful wurðlice, swa he wyrðe wæs.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 11914. Nys non on lyue … Þat semeþ so wel his beryng.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 793. Wlonk whit was her wede, & wel hit hem semed.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 394. And in spek wlispyt he sum deill; Bot that sat him rycht wonder weill.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 170. Sone the senatour was sett, as hyme wel semyde, At the kyngez ownne borde.

1502.  Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. xxxiv. (1893), 223. It acordeth nat to well to my hert.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VII. Prol. 165. As our buik begouth his weirfair tell, So, weill according, dewlie bene annext Thow drery preambill.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., Induct. i. 126. An Onion wil do well for such a shift. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., IV. ii. 4. It would doe well to set the Deares horns vpon his head.

1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 167. I haue inlarged my selfe in speaking more already, then may well become mee.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. xxiv. 185. She is dissatisfied with what she has written: But I tell her, I think it will do very well.

1832.  G. R. Porter, Porcelain & Gl., 274. Almost any … inflammable vegetable matter will probably answer equally well.

1848.  T. Aird, Chr. Bride, II. i. Yea, well that forehead’s beauty undebased Beseems the scion of a prince’s side.

  c.  To do well: to act prudently or sensibly. Also ironically.

1476.  Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 12. Ye do Ryghte welle to set hyt in a suerete.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, vii. 176. Ye have well doon, swete knyghte, for to have brought your horse here.

c. 1530.  Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Brit. (1814), 535. It were well done that I sholde cause be armed v. hondred knightes.

1576.  Turberv., Venerie, 192. The Huntsman … shall do well to stop up his earthes if he can finde them.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 53. You shall doe well to put in some few Slices of Eryngium Roots.

1663.  Gerbier, Counsel, 22. Roomes on moist grounds, do well to be Paved with Marble.

1673.  Dryden, Amboyna, III. i. He do’s well to take his time.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 180. Whoever shall follow the same, or a like track,… will do well to make a year of it.

1771.  Smollett, Humphry Cl. (3rd) 14 June. You will do well to keep a watchful eye over … Villiams.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., ix. Lord Bittlebrains would do weel to remember what his folk have been.

1856.  Mrs. Oliphant, Magd. Hepburn, I. 275. ‘Boy, thou dost well to beard me,’ cried Sir Roger.

1884.  Chr. Commw., 1 May, 688/3. Clergymen who have nothing better to do than incite to war would do well to seek some other calling.

  6.  Prosperously, successfully, fortunately, happily; without harm or accident. (Cf. 11.) Freq. with do, fare, go.

  To be well rid of: cf. RID v. 3 c.

Beowulf, 1045. Beowulfe … eoder Ingwina onwald ʓeteah wicga and wæpna; het hine wel brucan. Ibid., 2162. Bruc ealles well.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xxxix. 2. Drihten wæs mid him; se man wæs wel donde on eallum þingum.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 2983. Him stondes wel þat god child strenes.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. xxiv. 404. Well worth you all thre, most doughty in dede!

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. xx. 7. Yf he saye then: It is good, then stondeth it well with thy seruant. Ibid., 2 Kings iv. 26. Axe her yf it go well with her.

1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, III. iii. P j. All hayle moche .i. god sende the well to fare.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, P. Giles (1895), p. c, Thus … I byd you moste hartely well to fare.

1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 48. Too lustie of courage for wheat doth not well.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., IV. i. 21. Farewell my Wife,… Ile do well yet.

1611.  Bible, 2 Chron. xii. 12. Also in Iudah things went well.

16[?].  Sir W. Mure, Ps. xxxvii. 7. And fret not that his wayes go weell, Leud plotts to passe who brings.

1631.  Shirley, Sch. Cowpl., V. i. 68. Woo’d I were well rid of you.

1665.  in Spalding Club Misc., I. 40. I am werie confident … that the bussiness of our familie shall goe weall.

1712–3.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 17 Jan. This took well, and turned off the discourse.

a. 1718.  Prior, Epitaph, 5. If Human Things went Ill or Well.

1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 275. The gooseberry … and the common nightshade … succeed equally well.

1899.  Hugh E. M. Stutfield, in Blackw. Mag., March, 552/2. All went well as far as the foot of the ice-fall.

  b.  With verbs of going, bringing, getting, etc., and adverbial complement.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5024. Ledes wit yow beniamin, Godd giue yow þedir will [Fairf. wele] to wine.

c. 1470.  Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 110. God ȝeve yow goode nyghte and brynge yow welle home and in schorte tyme.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Bene, Good speede the, and send the well to returne. Ibid., s.v. Ceres, To call and praie to god to send well in our corne.

1636.  Sanderson, Serm. Ad Aulam, iv. (1689), 415. So he came well off at the last, though he was dangerously engaged onward.

1708.  S. Sewall, Diary, 13 Dec. Got home well in my slay, had much adoe to avoid slews.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1768), VIII. 184. God send him well out of the kingdom!

1748.  Smollett, R. Random, ix. We proceeded on our journey, blessing ourselves that we had come off so well.

1822.  Scott, Nigel, xv. I wish you weel through, my lord, but it is an unequal fight.

1852.  E. Warburton, Darien, I. xiii. (1860), 110. His regard for what was left of his reputation concurred with his greed of gold in wishing his guest well away.

1860.  Sala, Badd. Peerage, I. xviii. 307. However, I’m well out of it, I don’t mean Newgate, but my Spanish courtship.

1876.  H. Brooks, Natal, 199. After he had got well off from the tribes in the old neighbourhood.

  c.  Successfully in some material respect; profitably; advantageously.

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 245. To be had and to be hold … frely quyetly … wele and in pease.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. ii. 208. What a father doth to marie his daughter wel, is to give her a great portion in mariage.

1673.  Janeway, Heaven upon Earth (1847), 79. Consider … before you make light of this business, and know when you are well offered.

1729.  T. Cooke, Tales, etc., 102. Monimia wrong’d the tender Soul shall move, And Anthony well lose the World for Love.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. xxx. 236. Will four thousand pounds be well laid out in a quarter-partnership?

1863.  W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, vii. 231. I sold all my oxen well in Bloemfontein.

1864.  Trollope, Small Ho. Allington, xxvi. ‘Amelia has done very well [in her marriage], my dear.’ ‘Oh, if you call it doing well for your girls, I don’t.’

a. 1865.  Mrs. Gaskell, Wives & Dau., xxxii. Mamma … always says you have done very well for yourself [in marriage].

  † d.  spec. Profitably for the seller or buyer; at a high or low price respectively. Obs.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxviii. (Margaret), 6. And for þere prophetis thre we se it [the pearl] oft weile bocht be.

1480, 1576.  [see WELL-BOUGHT].

1599.  Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 59. They are exceeding fat [geese] & wel sold [L. optimi feri].

  7.  a. In a state of plenty or comfort. See also LIVE v.¹ 4 d.

c. 1000.  Ælfric’s Colloq., in Wright, Voc. (1857). Ʒe maʓon … butan minon cræfte lif adreoʓan, ac na lancge ne to wel [L. adeo bene].

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 106. Þanne ferde þe worlde as a feld þat ful were or bestes, Whan eueri lud liche wel lyuede up-on erþe.

1874.  Dasent, Tales fr. Fjeld, 302. He would be able to live well and good all his days.

  b.  Satisfactorily or excellently in respect of health or recovery from illness. Usually with do.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 251. A bruther of his askid hym how he did, and he said, wele.

a. 1478.  Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 29. I trust to God þat he sal doo ryght weile, and so doth þe fessechane.

1530.  Palsgr., 524/1. I do well: ic me porte bien.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., II. iv. 40. How doth the Prince? Mes. Well Madam, and in health. Ibid., III. i. 96. How fares our Noble Brother? Yorke. Well, my deare Lord.

1611.  Bible, John xi. 12. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleepe, he shall doe well.

1711–2.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 17 March. Mrs. Percival’s youngest daughter has got the small-pox, but will do well.

1841.  H. Greville, Diary, Ser. I. (1883), 152. A fine child, and the Queen doing well.

1863.  Longf., in Life (1891), III. 25. Bowditch is wounded through the arm; C. through both shoulders…. Both doing well.

  8.  With good reason; naturally; as a natural result or consequence.

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. i. (Schipper), 110. Cwæð he: Wel þæt swa mæʓ, forþon hi englelice ansyne habbað.

c. 1205.  Lay., 983. Wel ich hit mai suggen, to soþe ich hit wene.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 26. Siþ lordis and men of grete statis … ben so muche biholden to destroie it, & mowne welle don it in dede.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 183. Men … wel it calle may The daisie, or elles the ye of day.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., xiv. Wist thou thy payne to cum … For sorow and drede wele myght thou wepe and waille.

1485.  Caxton, Malory’s Arthur, Pref. 2. In hym … myght wel be aretted grete folye and blyndenesse.

1508.  Dunbar, Goldyn Targe, 279. Rude is thy wede,… Wele aucht thou be afiret of the licht.

1578.  T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, 60. Alleagyng … that he who had common 2000 leagues by Sea, mought well goe 70 leagues by lande.

1678.  B. R., Let. Pop. Friends, 3. Well may our Irish Friends, cry Oh Hone! Oh Hone!

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. x. 70. What! are you confounded?—Well you may, if you cannot answer me as I wish!

1791.  Cowper, Iliad, I. 319. Now Priam and his sons may well exult.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xliv. Ye could hardly weel be said to breakfast this morning.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 368. The government did not venture … to enforce a regulation of which the legality might well be questioned.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 5. Another might well have said of him what he … said of his famous contemporary.

1902.  ‘Violet Jacob,’ Sheep-Stealers, viii. ‘How do you get it all up to Abergavenny?’ ‘Ah, you may well ask.’

  b.  In clauses introduced by and or as.

a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl., 632. Þe children awoke þo anon … Sore hi beoþ offerd and wel maȝe.

1563–83.  Foxe, A. & M., 192/1. With thys vncomely outrage the King was much displeased (as he myght full well).

1650.  Eliz. Cromwell, Lett., 27 Dec., in Carlyle. Which makes me think my writing is slighted; as well it may.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 785. Back to the Thicket slunk The guiltie Serpent, and well might.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 5 May 1686. Which dispensation … gave umbrage (as well it might) to every good Protestant.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, III. viii. 119. The dear creature … took pride, as well she might, in her hair.

1852.  Gladstone, Glean. (1879), IV. 81. The capital was in amazement at the boldness of the Judges; and well it might.

1871.  ‘Mark Twain,’ Eye-Openers, 87. All the high houses about that distance away were full, windows, roof, and all. And well they might be, for all the falling stars and Fourth-of-July fireworks [etc.].

  c.  In concessive sense: Indeed, certainly. † How well (after F. combien que), although.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, III. xiii. 116. Alas syr, sayd the lady … I must nedes reste me. Ye shal wel, said kyng Pellinore.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 93. I haue not Intencion for to obeye his comandement how well that he is my fader. Ibid. (1474), Chesse, I. iii. (1883), 15. How well that the lyon be the strengest beste, yet somtyme a lityll birde eteth hym. Ibid., II. iv. 47. How well he was kynge by right.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xiv. 15. They do labour & til the ground, how wel there groweth no corne…. But well there groweth certaine other graine and hearbes of small estimation.

1589.  Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, I. i. (Arb.), 19. Who … may well be sayd a versifier, but not a Poet.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 211. These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The vertuous mind.

  9.  Without difficulty or hindrance; readily, easily.

c. 1000.  Canons of Ælfric, vii. in Thorpe, Laws, II. 346. Hy mihton þa wel habban wif on þam daʓum.

1154.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1137. Wel þu myhtes faren all a dæis fare, sculdest thu neure finden man in tune sittende.

c. 1250.  Prayer to Virgin, 19, in O. E. Misc., 196. Helpe þruh þin milde mod for wel þu mist [rhyme liht].

13[?].  Cursor M., 20116 (Edin.). Alle þa leuedis þate þare wern, Ful wel þai miȝtin hir forberne.

a. 1352.  Minot, Poems, i. 36. Þat lord of heuyn mot Edward lede And maintene him als he wele may.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxv. 114. Þai may wele hafe swilk clathes, for þai er of lesse prys þare þan wollen clathez er here.

c. 1420.  Sir Amadace (Camden), xxxix. For he that schope bothe sunne and mone, Fulle wele may pay for alle!

c. 1450.  Cursor M., 19059 (Laud). Thow maiste wele se now our wone Yeftes haue we to the non.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., I. xiii. 41. Who that myght haue the parfayt scyence therof, he myght wel knowe how the world was compassed.

1551.  R. Robynson, More’s Utopia (1895), 53. All their housholde stuffe, whiche is verye lytle worth, though it myght well abyde the sale.

1803.  Med. Jrnl., X. 203. With respect to this query,… I cannot so well answer.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 16. Nor were the refugees such as a country can well spare.

1828.  [Sir G. C. Lewis], trans. Boeckh’s Publ. Econ. Athens, I. 318. These ambassadors remained absent three months, although they might have equally well returned at the end of one.

  b.  Used to denote the possibility or likelihood of an occurrence or fact. 1

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1788. So may the wynde weile turnne, I quytte hym or ewyne.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, III. iii. He that is … atte vpperest of the whole of fortune, may wel falle doune.

a. 1547.  Surrey, Æneis, II. 373. This right hand well mought have ben her defense.

1618.  W. Lawson, New Orchard & Gard. (1623), 7. The chilling cold may well some little time stay, or hinder the proud course of the sap.

1620.  Quarles, Feast for Worms, xi. I j. Was not this my Word,… When this mis-hap mought well haue bin escaped?

1680.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., x. 178. Though no size for the heighth of the Puppets can be well asserted.

1709.  Berkeley, Ess. Vision, § 144. A little consideration will show us how this may well be.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, I. xii. 66. That a learned man and a linguist may very well be two persons.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 188. This was as strong a case as could well come before the Court.

1874.  Scrivener, Lect. Text N. T., 5. No transcript … can well be found which does not differ from its prototype in some small points.

1887.  ‘L. Carroll,’ Game of Logic, i. 10. I grant you they couldn’t well be fewer. Ibid., 35. Your Premisses … are as fallacious as they can well be!

  c.  In negative or comparative clauses.

1523.  Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 35. I can not wele tell you what was the occasyon.

1569.  J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 31 b. The thinge seemed graver unto him then that he mighte well speake of it.

1609.  Bible (Douay), 4 Kings xxv. Comm., There was so exceding much, that they wel could not, or did not weigh it.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 173. The Base striketh more Aire, than it can well strike equally.

1642.  Tasman’s Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1694), 135. The Wind would not well suffer them to go to the Northward.

1686.  [Allix], Dissert., i. in W. Hopkins, Ratramnus’ Body & Bl. (1688), 7. His Answer … could not be well written before the Year 868.

1711.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 27 April. I see not how they can well want him…, and he would make a troublesome enemy.

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ., II. 14 (Passport, Paris), By the time La Fleur had well told me, the master of the hotel came … to tell me the same thing.

1827.  Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. vii. Before Vivian could well finish his sentence.

1881.  Jowett, Thucyd., I. 192. He can praise a sharp remark before it is well out of another’s mouth.

1898.  ‘Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xiii. 135. Appearing to know more of that abode of evil than she well could.

  † d.  At least, assuredly. Obs.

1825.  Scott, Betrothed, xxi. Surely, if I am willing to confer such confidence, it is well thy part to answer it.

  10.  To all appearance; by good evidence.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17900. Þenne coom a mon … þat semed wel to haue ben eremyte.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 369. Wel semed eche of hem a fair burgeys.

1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 237. That yt appere wel that she ys hys mother.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VI. vii. 192. Thou semest wel to be a good knyght.

  b.  With acute reasoning; shrewdly.

c. 1450.  Merlin, ii. 25. When thei herde these words, [they] supposed wele what he ment.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xciv. 116. They supposed well before that the Kyng of Englande wolde come into Bretayne.

a. 1687.  Cotton, Angler’s Ballad, ii. Poems (1689), 76. And full well you may think, If you troll with a Pink, One too weak will be apt to miscarry.

  III.  11. Effectively; successfully as regards result or progress.

Beowulf, 2570. Scyld wel ʓebearʓ life and lice læssan hwile … þonne his myne sohte.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boethius, xli. § 4. Swiðe wel þu min hæfst ʓeholpen æt þære spræce.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 39. Þe childre þewuen wuel.

c. 1205.  Lay., 23121. For ich hine wulle in Norwæȝe neowe king makien and hine wel lere to witeȝen wel þa leoden.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 322. I sal helpe þe wondire veill.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 1911. But the oynement halpe me wele.

c. 1450.  Lovelich, Grail, xiii. 270. Scheldes & hawberkis al to-broke, So wel they gonne there hem beweld.

1821.  Southey, Lett. (1856), III. 262. The printer gets on well with my History.

  12.  In a manner, or to an extent, approaching thoroughness or completeness.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 322. Ʒecnua [þa wyrta] wel.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 19308. He … haffde himm sellf wel filledd All þatt tatt cwiddedd haffde ben Off himm.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 229. He … heled him ðat side wel ðat it ne wrocte him neuere a del.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Reeve’s T., 388. Thise clerkes beete hym weel, and lete hym lye.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 321. Now schalle we wreke fulle wele the wrethe of oure elders!

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., I. 6. Take otemele, an grynd it smal, an sethe it wyl. Ibid., 26. Menge hem wylle to-gederys.

1482.  Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 23. Ageyne meruaylously the colowre of hys face was reuyuyd and welle shewyd.

1523–34.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 35. Corne,… if it be well wynowed or fande,… wyll be solde the derer.

1535.  Coverdale, Ez. xxiv. 5. Let it boyle well, & let the bones seyth well therin.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Bene, Well accompanied or with a good companie.

1618.  W. Lawson, New Orchard & Gard. (1623), 12. All your labour … about an Orchard is lost vnlesse you fence well.

1639.  Fuller, Holy War, I. xix. 31. Of late some English travellers climbing this mountain were well wetted.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 295. This from his Weaning, let him well be taught. Ibid., IV. 191. Lab’ring Well his little Spot of Ground.

1703.  Rowe, Ulysses, IV. i. (1706), 50. ’Till … that poor bleeding King be well reveng’d.

1799.  G. S. Carey, Balnea (ed. 2), 76. The market here is not very well supplied.

1814.  Scott, Wav., xlv. The pockets of the defunct … had been pretty well spung’d.

1820.  Keats, Lamia, II. 301. She, as well As her weak hand could any meaning tell, Motion’d him to be silent.

1890.  Retrospect Med., CII. 307. After being well dried with an antiseptic sponge or dry gauze.

  13.  Used as an intensive to strengthen the idea implied in the verb, or to denote that the action, etc., indicated by it attains a high point or degree.

  (a)  c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., v. § 2. Ne meaht þu win wringan on mide winter, þeah ðe wel lyste wearmes mustes.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 148. Syle him ðas ylcan wyrte wel drincan on wætere.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1521. Niðede ðat folk him fel wel, And deden him flitten hise ostel.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 1266. Þan william wiȝily, as he wel couþe, profered him þat prisoner.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 21. Thai suld weill hawe pryss That in thar tyme war wycht and wyss. Ibid., XVIII. 87. Thai said weill at thai suld do sua.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., Prol. 1. As resoun also it weel confermeth.

1876.  Coursing Calendar, 172. Mr. Deighton’s bitch, who beat her opponent well at the finish.

1877.  H. Smart, Bound to Win, III. 158. Ever since … the twain had got on very well together.

  (b)  c. 1200.  Ormin, 19300. Þiss birrþ þe full wel trowwenn.

a. 1352.  Minot, Poems, i. 41. Gai þai war and wele þai thoght On þe Erle Morre and oþer ma.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 149. He thocht weile … That he suld slely fynd the gate [etc.].

c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 2507. That may i noght do, Bileves wele, for me bus go.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 67. Þe kynge … wente wele it were sothe alle þat she seyde.

c. 1450.  Merlin, xxxii. 655. Thei bothe fill to the erthe as he that trusted wele vpon his felowes.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxxi. 34. Thomas. Sir, What so euer ye bid vs do We ascent vs well ther to.

1476.  Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 11. In trowthe I hadde wil hopide that your horsis shulde a ben here as þis night.

  (c)  1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 215 b. Many moo then one to had well deserued to bee whipped.

a. 1669.  [see DESERVE v. 3].

1692.  E. Walker, trans. Epictetus’ Mor., Ep. Ded. You were then pleas’d to express an high esteem for the Author, as he very well deserves it.

  b.  with verbs of pleasing († like, pay), liking, or loving.

  (a)  Beowulf, 639. Ðam wife þa word wel licodon.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 918. Þam þe him on mode ær … wel ʓecwemdun.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. vi. 34. Wel mæʓ vel wel licas [L. sufficit] ðæm dæʓ weriʓnise his.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 29. Þis is min se leofa sunu, on þæm me wel ʓelicode.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 230. There ne es prelatte, ne pape,… That he ne myghte be wele payede of thees pryce metes!

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 39. Your plainnesse and your shortnesse please me well.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, I. li. 410. Sir Hargrave did not seem so well pleased.

  (b)  1300.  Cursor M., 548. Wit bestes doumb man has his fele, O thyng man liks, il or welle.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 54. Sythen seche to þe courte…, And þou shalt lyke fulle wele yf þou may lyfe aftur.

c. 1450.  Merlin, xxx. 607. Kynge Ban … be-hilde the maydenys, and liked well theire companye.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 2. He trusted I shuld lyke it right wele.

1675.  R. Burthogge, Causa Dei, 419. Perhaps, while some of us are for Martyn, and others for Luther,… God likes well of us All.

1847.  Riddell, Cottagers Glendale, III. xxv. Our Mary liket weel to stray Where clear the burn was rowin’.

  (c)  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11310. O pouert na dedeigne had he þat biddes vs luue wel pouerte.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 36. In Ingland neuer before was kyng lufed so wele.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, C. T., Prol. 634. Wel loued he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes.

c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 3892. Thei love as vel as doth sustir & brothir.

c. 1450.  Capgrave, St. Aug., i. 3. We rede of hym … þat he hated þe Greke letteris and loued weel þe Latyn.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. vii. 139. Let them kisse one another: For they lou’d well When they were aliue.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xx. It is a spot connected with the legendary lore which I love so well.

  c.  Placed before past pples. to denote a high degree of the state, etc., described. † Also occas. following the pple.

c. 1205.  Lay., 340. Þa wepmen weren iwexan, Þa wimen wel iþowene.

c. 1300.  E. E. Poems (1862), 153. Þis uers is ful wel iwroȝt.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 242. Now I find þe here, wele set is my trauaile.

c. 1352.  Minot, Poems, iii. 101. Þe Inglis men war armed wele Both in yren and in stele.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, C. T., Prol. 29. The chambres and the stables weren wyde And wel we weren esed atte beste.

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 9900 (Trin.). A deep diche is þere about wel wrouȝte wiþouten doute.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. iii. 150. Eer thei be weel adauntid and weel schamed of her folie.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 112. Is nayne in warld, at scaithis ma do mar, Than weile trastyt in borne familiar.

1553.  Ascham, Rept. Germany, 3. We were wel affrayd then, the sickenes would haue proud also to vs … very contagious.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 231. Whan the number of Bysshoppes was wel increased, they beganne the Counsell.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., IV. xiii. 126 b. A Leopardes skynne well spotted. Ibid. The poleaxe at the point being well steeled.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 335. Maides well Sommer’d and warme kept, are like Flyes at Bartholomew-tyde.

1639.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Crabtree Lect., 46. I am neither well litter’d, nor well provender’d … nor well rubb’d, nor well curried, nor indeed well any thing’d.

1659.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), IV. 171. Some say the Sweade is well beaten by the Dane and Dutch.

1746.  Francis, trans. Hor., Sat., I. iv. 190. Well fraught with numbers is the rhyming trade.

1771.  Mrs. Haywood, New Present for Maid, 255. Wood-ashes well sifted.

1783.  S. Chapman, in Med. Commun., I. 285. Tincture of roses, well acidulated.

1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 497. Pots … either new or well cleaned in the inside.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxvii. She had been drawn on into wider schemes, and could not retire until these … were well started.

  d.  With past pples. followed by prepositions or adverbs.

1538.  Elyot, Dict., Add., Artitus, well instructed in sciences.

1621.  Sanderson, Serm., Ad Pop., iv. (1689), 212. The land by that means well-purged of these overspreading Locusts.

1755.  J. Shebbeare, Lydia (1769), I. 178. Surgeon Macpherson being well learnt in northern knowledge.

1863.  Kinglake, Crimea (1876), I. xii. 198. He had not been kept well imbued with the policy which his Government was pursuing.

1899.  Daily News, 28 Oct., 7/1. I conceived that his system was not well-bottomed on facts.

  e.  With adjs. in -ed (cf. 32).

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, e j b. An hert heeded weele.

  14.  Clearly, definitely, without any doubt or uncertainty.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 95. Wel wostu þat hi doþ þar ynne.

1258.  Hen. III., Proclam., 18 Oct. § 2. Þæt witen ȝe wel alle þæt we willen [etc.].

c. 1290.  Beket, 119, in S. Eng. Leg., 110. For we it mowen wel i-wite … Þat … it is godes sonde.

a. 1300.  Harrow. Hell (Digby MS.), 57. Þou miȝt wel witen bi mi play Þat ich wile hauen mine away.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 866. I sagh wel þat i misfard.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 91. Men seþ wel þat þe see seseþ & stinteþ.

a. 1366.  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1355. There were, and that wote I full well, Of pome garnettys a full gret dell. Ibid. (c. 1386), Merch. T., Epil. 7. And from a sooth euere wol they weyue; By this Marchauntes tale it preueth weel.

1411.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 650/1. He knoweth wel that … he ne hath noght born hym as he sholde hav doon.

c. 1450.  Merlin, xxxii. 655. Segramor … hadde well sein and parceyved whiche was Petrius.

1483.  Caxton, Golden Leg., 429/1. The kyng theodoryk that wel wyste of it commaunded [etc.].

c. 1483.  Skelton, Death Edw. IV., 37. I se wyll, they leve that doble my ȝeris.

1526.  Tindale, John iv. 26. I wot well Messias shall come.

1581.  Rich, Farew. Milit. Prof., Ep. Ded. a ij. Wisdome now hath warned me, that I well knowe Cheese from Chalke.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xix. 22 b. Which hee well perceiued, and smiling, tolde mee that he saw wel that I dissembled.

1624.  Bp. Mountagu, Immed. Addr., 95. As … his most sacred Maiestie can well remember.

1638.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett., II. 33. The number of my enemies is great, I see it well.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 926. Well thou knowst I stood Thy fiercest.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 78, ¶ 7. We well know, Sir, you want no Motives to do Justice.

1741–2.  Gray, Agrippina, 60. I well remember too (for I was present).

1788.  Priestley, Lect. Hist., IV. xxiv. 191. Nor does it well appear that their kings did afterwards introduce any of another sort.

1837.  Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci. (1857), II. 158. All is done by an impulsion which one does not well understand.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 24. He … could well remember the political contests of the reign of James the First.

1895.  Law Times, XCIX. 544/1. The parties know perfectly well beforehand what are the points in dispute.

  b.  Intimately, familiarly; closely, in detail.

  (a)  c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 225. Mi broþer wele it [a ring] knewe, Mi fader ȝaf it me.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 253. Peter þe apostel … wel hym knewe.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 13508. Wele his cosyn he knew, & kaght hym in armys.

c. 1420.  Avow. Arth., xxx. The kinge his bugulle con blaw, His knyȝtus couthe hitte welle knaw.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VI. iii. 186. We here knowe the wel that thou arte syre Launcelot du laake.

1535.  Coverdale, Gen. xxix. 5. We knowe him well.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., I. i. 153. You know me well.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 442. The Shepherd knows it well; and calls by Name Hippomanes.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 58, ¶ 2. He being well known to us all.

1862.  Thackeray, Philip, xxvii. I know him … too well to think he will ever apologize!

  (b)  a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 44. He couth … wele as Aristotill þe artis all seuyn.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 122. Arystotle … well kowth the lawes.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 3698. Be cause ye knowe so will this contre.

1602.  2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnassus, Prol. 46. Vnlesse you know the subiect well you may returne home as wise as you came.

1759.  Johnson, Rasselas, vii. He thought himself happy in having found a man who knew the world so well.

1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxiii. I can well of woodcraft.

  15.  In a skilful or expert manner.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, xxxii. 3. Wel singað [L. bene psallite] in wynsumnisse.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Christ, 668. Sum mæʓ fingrum wel … hearpan stirʓan.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 109. Ne mei him na Mon alsa wel demen ne alsa rihte.

c. 1205.  Lay., 41. A Frenchis clerc, Wace wes ihoten, Þe wel couþe writen.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3166. So wisliche he made hit & so wel þat me leuede him uaste.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 122. Ful weel she soong the seruice dyuyne. Ibid., 384. He koude … Maken Mortreux and wel bake a pye.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, II. 2368. This Tubal koude forge weel.

1529.  More, Dialogue Heresyes, Wks. 108/2. And men mutter amonge them selfe, that y^t boke was not only faultles, but also very wel translated.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 73. The same gate or tower … well and warly was made ouer the gateloups.

1599.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., V. iii. 2nd Masque. How well Diana can distinguish times? Ibid. (1626), Staple of N., IV. i. Well play’d, my Poet.

1656.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. IV. iv. 3. A Man … able to discourse wel.

1706.  trans. De Piles’ Art Painting, 386. He was a universal Painter; he perform’d well alike in all kinds, Landskip only excepted.

1741.  C’tess Pomfret, in C’tess Hartford’s Corr. (1805), II. 277. Lord Strafford … looks extremely young … but talks very well.

1803.  Scott, Cadyow Castle, xvii. Aim’d well, the Chieftain’s lance has flown.

1857.  Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, ii. § 102. A great work is only done when the painter … determines to paint it as well as he can.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 381. Every one of these poets has said many things well and many things the reverse of well.

  b.  In a sufficient or satisfactory manner.

  The exact sense varies in different contexts.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1541. He seruede his fader wel Wið wines drinc and seles mel.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XI. 50. God may richt weill our werdis deill.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Squire’s T., 18. He … kepte alwey so wel roial estat, That ther was nowher swich another man.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 2. Alle weldynge god … Wele le wereth his werke with his owne honde.

1712.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 26 March. The quicksets … do not grow so well as those famous ones on the ditch.

1853.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIV. II. 367. The machine … could not cut laid corn well.

1855.  Poultry Chron., II. 523. She appears moping, but eats very well.

1893.  Weekly Notes, 85/1. The existing practice has worked well, and … ought to be maintained.

1908.  [Miss E. Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 40. Very fine Irises … grow well in that garden.

  c.  With good appearance or effect; elegantly.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 196. After þe Inglis kynges he says þer pris Þat all in metir fulle wele lys.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 332. This markis … hir sette Upon an hors, snow-whyt, and wel ambling.

c. 1450.  Merlin, iii. 44. Thider come to hym a comely man wele araied.

a. 1529.  Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, iv. 135. Yt wold garnyche wyll thy face.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 212, ¶ 4. A Woman must think well to look well.

1778.  D. Loch, Tour Scotl., 14. Upon the whole, it is a neat well laid out town.

1779.  Mirror, No. 11. That [science] of the serjeant, as it teaches a man to stand well on his legs.

1884.  E. Yates, Recoll., I. 142. The gardens were large and well laid out.

1898.  A. Balfour, To Arms, vi. I was a big, strong fellow, carrying my six feet well.

  IV.  As an intensive with adjectives, numerals, adverbs, etc.

  16.  With adjectives. Formerly in common use, the sense varying from ‘fully, completely’ to ‘fairly, considerably, rather.’ Now rare exc. as in b.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxv. Seo leo, þah hio wel tam se,… heo forʓit sona hire niwan taman.

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. ii. 258. Wæron her stronge cyningas and wel cristene.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 217. Þa wæs he þær daʓas wel maniʓe.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 180. Pisan … ʓesodena … on wine wel scearpum.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 49. Ah leofemen godalmihtin haueð isceaweð us wel muchele grace.

c. 1205.  Lay., 25694. We habbeð wið him iuohten wel feole siðen.

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 112. His muð is ȝet wel unkuð wið pater noster and crede.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1. Engelond his a wel god lond. Ibid., 7693. Þoru out al engelond he huld wel god pes.

c. 1315.  Shoreham, Poems, i. 24. Be him wel siker, þer-to he schel.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 4. In þat forest … Þer woned a wel old cherl.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 44. In a wel perilous place þat Purgatorie hette.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, I. 13. I haue peynt a wel faire man.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), ix. 35. A lytill citee and a narow, bot it es wele lang.

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 160. Hit shold be wele lawfull to the same Abbesse.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Avian, ii. Wel hyghe fro the ground.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lii. 176. He thought hymselfe ryght wel happy.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. ii. 62/1, in Holinshed. The Ogur or Gur … is a welfaire streame.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, IV. xxxi. 489. A branche of leaues, very well like to the leaues of the Lentil.

1599.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., V. iv. Tis well brim full. Euen I haue glut of blood.

1648.  Gage, West Ind., 160. They have enough and more then is well sutable to their vow … of poverty.

1664.  H. More, Apol., vi. in Myst. Iniq., 520. When he was once well warm in his Dignity.

1700.  Dryden, Pal. & Arc., I. 151. Nor well alive nor wholly dead they were.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Painting, To Paint on a Wall: when well dry, they give it two or three Washes of boiling Oil.

1822.  Scoresby’s Jrnl. Whale Fish. (1823), 448. We … made her well fast for another night’s lodgings.

  b.  In modern use esp. in well able, aware, worth, worthy.

c. 1420.  Sir Amadace, xxxi. Ȝe mone haue maysturs euyrqware, As wele wurthi ȝe ar soe.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 224. Amen, if you loue her, for the Ladie is verie well worthie.

1611.  Bible, Num. xiii. 30. Let vs goe vp at once and possesse it, for we are well able to ouercome it.

1612.  R. Ch., Olde Thrift newly revived, 64. Though it be a seemely and large tree, and well worth the hauing, yet [etc.].

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, VII. 906. Himself well worthy of a happier Throne.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 78, ¶ 9. You are well able to settle this affair.

1780.  Coxe, Russ. Discov., 187. He was well aware that the only method [etc.].

1804.  Anna Seward, Lett. (1811), VI. 164. Every day produces letters as well worth attention as most of Cowper’s.

1837.  B. D. Walsh, Aristoph., Knts., I. iii. I was well aware that these intrigues were carpentered.

1885.  Law Times’ Rep., LII. 650/2. She thought the property was well worth that amount.

  † 17.  With numerals, or terms of measurement, denoting fulness of the number, distance, etc. Obs.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xv. 37. Se godspellere … ðær þurhwunode wel twa ʓear mid him. Ibid. (c. 1000), On New T. (Grein), 13. For þan þe ic ʓesett hæbbe, wel feowertiʓ larspella on Engliscum ʓereorde.

c. 1290.  St. Kenelm, 232, in S. Eng. Leg., 352. Folk þat þis wonder isaiȝ … awaiteden wel a dai ȝware þe kou bicome.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1747. He tok sone knithes ten, And wel sixti oþer men.

a. 1352.  Minot, Poems, vii. 57. Knightes war þare wele two score.

a. 1375.  Joseph Arim., 521. Seraphe takes of heore men wel a two hundred.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1919), xxii. 126. Wel a .iiij. quarteres of a furlong ore more.

c. 1425.  Engl. Conq. Ireland, xxi. 52. Wel thre þousand men.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), II. 446. He … was there well thre owres seechyng yf he coude fynde ony hoole or caue. Ibid. (c. 1489), Sonnes of Aymon, i. 23. They were well an hondred men or more.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xvi. 17. There was deed in the place, well to the nombre of ccc.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. iii. 8. A great Harbour, which reacheth into the Lande sixe leagues, and at the entering it containeth well as much more.

  18.  † a. With adverbs. (Cf. 16.) Obs.

  See also WELL-A-FINE, -MOST, -NEAR, -NIGH, and YWHERE adv.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 8. Wel late ich habbe me bi-þocht; bute god me nu rede.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 36. For þine wle lete Wel ofte ich my song furlete.

c. 1275.  Lay., 25349. Folk þar com wel sone to þare borh of Rome.

13[?].  Guy Warw. (1891), 446. Wel wele y knowe,… Herhaud, so god me rede.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 4989. I hote þe in hert it liked him wel ille.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 67. The moste my[s]chief on molde is mountyng wel faste.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 33. There is wel onethe game non That from myne bokys maketh me to gon.

c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 2513. Down to the erthe wele lowe thay loute.

1450–80.  trans. Secreta Secret., xxi. 17. They beren it welle grevously ayens him.

1563.  Winȝet, trans. Vincent. Lirin., ix. Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 27. The writtingis of sum auld aunciant man weil dirklie setfurth.

  b.  With advs. and preps. of place or direction, in later use freq. in figurative phrases.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11027. Til elizabeth þan welforth stadd, Hir child in wamb [began] be gladd.

c. 1320.  Sir Tristrem, 22. His name, it sprong wel wide.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, I. 17. Þat is in oþer bookes iwrite welwyde.

c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 549. He thoght to be wele on hys way Or it war passed the thryd day.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. iv. 20. Welnyȝ or weel toward the al hool lawe with which Cristen men ben chargid.

1473.  Paston Lett., III. 92. Som men thynke it wysdom … to be theer now weell owt off the weye.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, vii. 176. But or ever he was vnbounde, the other were well ferre.

1530.  Palsgr., 862/1. Well forwarde, bien auant.

1625.  Purchas, Pilgrims, II. 1132. Well within the banke we harboured.

1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 173. Whose Force … so gauled Seva Gi, that he wish’d him well off.

1788.  J. White, Jrnl. Voy. N. S. Wales (1790), 109. Being well in with the westward-most point of a very large bay.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxv. 133. The Captain stood well to the westward, to run inside the Bermudas.

1855.  M. Pattison, in Oxford Ess., 287. Though not published till 1830, which was well into the second period.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xvii. She held her head well up.

1895.  Law Times’ Rep., LXXII. 817/1. A woman well past the age of childbearing.

  † c.  Well at ease: see EASE sb. 7 a.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17651. He was gestend ful wel at es.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIII. 42. Of þat men mys-wonne, þei made hem wel at ese.

1530.  Palsgr., 844/1. Well at ease, bien ayse.

1551.  T. Wilson, Logic, D j. Nature hath denied some men health of body, that thei are neuer wel at ease.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 232. He felte hymselfe skant well at ease.

1706.  trans. De Piles’ Art Painting, 229. By these high Prises Guido found himself, in a little while, very well at ease, and liv’d nobly.

1825.  Jennings, Obs. Dial. W. Eng., Well-at-ease, hearty, healthy.

  d.  With various prepositional phrases or adverbs denoting a state or condition.

c. 1425.  Macro Plays, Cast. Persev., 2702. Þou art a party wele in age.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 179. They were wel at peace, when I did leaue ’em.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xlii. 168. A woman reasonably well in years.

1701.  W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, i. 17. Marcus went to Lectures to this Man … when he was well in Years.

1861.  Hughes, Tow Brown at Oxf., iv. It takes no mean qualities to keep a boat’s crew well together and in order.

1879.  Mrs. Argles, Airy Fairy Lilian, III. 100. Taffy and Mabel Steyne can be seen a little lower down, holding well together.

  † 19.  With comparative adjs. and advs. (esp. bet or better, worse, and more): Much, considerably, rather. Obs.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 287. Man þou art iwis To winne ȝvt a kinedom wel betere þan min is.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2438. Abram went ham and his wijf sare, He luued hir wil mare þan are.

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2359. Men sese noght ne krawes what it es, Þarfor men dredes it wele þe les.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 95. I deme men þat don ille, and ȝit I do wel worse.

c. 1400.  Beryn, 902. It had be wel bettir, he had be wele I-lernyd.

c. 1400.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), IV. xxxviii. (1859), 63. Thenne began she to wepe wel faster than byfore.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxvi. 304. I was well wrother with Iudas.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 199. Fra that tyme furth the weill les he thame dred.

1624.  Bedell, Lett., xi. 141. Your next is well worse.

  V.  20. As well as: a. In as good, efficient, satisfactory, (etc.) a way or manner as. (Also, in early use, simply well as.)

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 44. And wele as Aristotill [he couth] þe artis all seuyn.

1435.  Coventry Leet Bk. (1907), 182. But neuer-the-later … he makithe cardes ther-of as well as he may.

1530.  Palsgr., 831/2. As well as is possyble,… As well as can be or maye be.

1589.  Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. xxii. (Arb.), 267. Certaine propheticall rymes, which might be constred two or three wayes as well as to that one whereunto the rebels applied it.

1600.  Look About You, I 1 b. I see Prince Iohn coorted as well as I.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 201. This is the place, as well as I may guess.

1634.  Massinger, Very Woman, IV. i. Ped. How hast thou sped? John. My Lord, as well as wishes.

1793.  Piper of Peebles, 6. Fan cummers fled and hurl’d as weel On ice, as ony vady chiel.

a. 1809.  J. Palmer, Like Master (1811), I. xii. 174. I am left to rough it as well as I can.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 74. She affected … to listen with civility while the Hydes excused their recent conduct, as well as they could.

  b.  To the same extent, in the same degree, as much, as.

  OE. eal swa wel … swa swa occurs in the same sense (Ælfric, Hom., I. 274).

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, I. 75. He … sayde he was a synner & mysterd forgyfnes of his syn als wele as sho did.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, II. i. (1481), b j. He … swore to hym … that also wel he was and shold be his frend … as euer he had ben tofore.

1547.  Homilies, I. Swearing, II. G iv b. Aswell they vse the name of God in vayne … as they whiche do promise [etc.].

1628.  Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. (ed. 3), 235. Why hath Daulis and Thebes no Swallowes … as well as the rest of Greece.

1710.  Addison, Whig Exam., No. 4, ¶ 1. A man may as well hope to distinguish colours in the midst of darkness, as to find out what to approve and disapprove in nonsense.

1891.  R. W. Church, Oxf. Movement, xix. 347. The English Church was after all as well worth living in and fighting for as any other.

  c.  With weakened force, passing into the sense of ‘both … and,’ ‘not only … but also.’ Also † so well … as.

  In early use the rendering ‘not only … but also’ is applicable only if the two contrasted words or expressions are transposed.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 49. And therto hadde he riden … As wel in cristendom as in Hethenesse.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 117. For al schal deie … Als wel a Leoun as an asse, Als wel a beggere as a lord.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), vii. 25. Þus þai do als wele in winter as in somer.

c. 1425.  trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 60. Blode is norischyng of al membrez, als wele of sadde as of softe.

1467–8[?].  Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 100. The Shireff shewyd ij comyssions of this graunt as well of the lordes as of the comyns.

1533.  Cranmer, Lett. to Dean of Arches, Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.), II. 253. That you take all manner of depositions as well for the one part as for the other.

1571.  Digges, Pantom., I. xx. G j b. In equiangle triangles aswell the contayning as the subtending sides of equall angles are proportionall.

1588.  Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 329. All of them as well the men as women and children were clothed with shamway skins.

1645.  Gataker, God’s Eye on Israel, 50. Consisting of both sorts, as well unfaithfull as faithfull, as well bad as good.

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, II. iv. § 2. Which … must certainly comprehend as well the morall as the ceremoniall part of Moses his Law.

1718.  Hickes & Nelson, J. Kettlewell, I. xiii. 38. Making Use as well of his Eye … as of his Tongue.

1749.  C. Middleton, Free Inq., Pref. p. xxxiii. It is allowed … by all, as well friends as enemies.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xiv. Our churchmen have become wealthy, as well by the gifts of pious persons, as by … bribes.

  (b)  1545.  Bale, Image Both Ch., xiii. (1550), d viij. Comprehending in him so wel Mahomyte as the Pope, so well the ragynge tyraunt as the styll hypocryte.

  d.  Used to denote the inclusion of one thing (person, etc.) or class with another.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. vii. 316. The multitude of the lay peple, as weel as of clerkis.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IX. xxxvi. 397. Whan men ben hote in dedes of armes ofte they hurte their frendes as wel as their foes.

1613.  Hieron, Serm., Wks. 1614, I. 335. Whereas the children of God in many things are trespassers aswell as the vngodly.

1649.  Howell, Dodona’s Grove (ed. 3), 3. Nor is she lesse abounding in all things conducing to pleasure also, aswel as profit.

1655.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), III. 221. My heart as well as pursse being quite sunck.

1702.  Addison, Dial. Medals, ii. (1726), 37. I find … the Latins mean Courage by the figure of Virtue, as well as by the word it self.

1715.  Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 127. The two first … are made of Tin as well as the third.

1769.  Junius Lett., ii. 13. Educated … by … a most spirited as well as excellent scholar.

1821.  Craig, Lect. Drawing, etc., vii. 404. The back-ground as well as other parts is dotted or stippled.

1854.  Mrs. Jameson, Comm.-pl. Bk. (1877), 38. There are different sorts of strength as well as different degrees.

1896.  Law Times’ Rep., LXXIII. 615/1. A highway for carriages as well as for foot-passengers.

  21.  As well. a. Also, in addition; in the same way.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 536. As she dyde, he dyde yn dede;… Ryȝt as she dede, he dede as weyl.

1549.  Compl. Scot., Epist. 1. As veil it bringis furtht … hoilsum frute of honour.

a. 1631.  Donne, Paradoxes (1652), 60. They should love their brothers aswel.

1669–70.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 302. The next news will be, that … they [the Lords] have as well complyed on their part also.

1875.  Economist, 23 Jan., 95/1. But the state of the French Exchange is such that gold is taken from London as well.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxvii. Because she was a dressmaker, and lived at Stepney, he would be a workman and live there as well.

  b.  To the same extent.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. ix. 199. Wherfore as weel or miche rather Cristen men ouȝten be waar forto entirmete with like ymagis. Ibid., II. xviii. 260. Wherfore as weel and as alloweabili y mai seie this speche.

  c.  With may, might, had, etc., implying the equivalence or equal result of one action in comparison with another.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxix. 249. Sir, we myght als wele talke tille a tome tonne!

1608.  Dod & Cleaver, Expos. Prov. xi. and xii., 87. I might as well haue thrown my mony down the riuer.

1652.  Shirley, Brothers, IV. v. He might as well have murdered me, for I Shall have no heart to live.

1692.  E. Walker, trans. Epictetus’ Mor., xviii. As well you might Wish Vice were Virtue, wish that Black were White.

1730.  Lett. to Sir W. Strickland rel. to Coal Trade, 25. Dyers … buy wholly of the Lightermen, tho’ they might as well … buy of the Masters.

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ., Le Patisser. As I am at Versailles, thought I, I might as well take a view of the town.

1800.  Wordsw., Hart-Leap Well, II. ix. You might as well Hunt half a day for a forgotten dream.

1820.  Byron, Mar. Fal., IV. ii. It had been As well had there been time to have got together, From my own fief … more Of our retainers—but it is too late.

1870.  J. E. T. Rogers, Hist. Glean., Ser. II. 151. He thought he might as well strive to promote his own ends.

1879.  Miss Braddon, Cloven Foot, xxxviii. You really may as well let me have a little food.

  22.  a. With qualifying adverb prefixed, as too well, pretty well.

  Also freq. with so, very, full (see FULL adv. 1 c), right (see RIGHT adv. 9 a).

  (a)  c. 888.  Ælfred, Boethius, vii. § 3. For ðæm þæt ðe ðissa woruldsælða to wel ne lyste.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 185. Ic lærde þæt men … uþgengra welena to wel ne truwodon.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 344. Then must you speake Of one that lou’d not wisely, but too well.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. ix. 59. Those [facts], however, would too well justify him.

  (b)  1599.  Massinger, etc., Old Law, V. i. The Dutch Veny I swallowed pretty wel.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 214. Give the Horse pretty well of my Cordial Ball. Ibid., 215. He has pretty well of Flesh upon his Back.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. vii. 40. Their father … by that time, had pretty well got over his grief.

1855.  Kingsley, Westw. Ho! ii. He … had his heart pretty well hardened by long, baneful licence.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxviii. They had got by this time pretty well all they clamoured for.

1888.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Bootle’s Childr., xi. Lassie kept her composure pretty well.

1902.  H. K. Mann, Lives Popes, I. I. 417. It had then, to argue from the pallium of St. Gregory I., pretty well its modern shape.

  (c)  1903.  Kipling, Five Nations, 117. We have had a jolly good lesson, and it serves us jolly well right.

  b.  Well enough: sufficiently well, adequately.

  In the 16th cent. occasionally written as one word.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 295. And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh, It was fantosme.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 215. When sho saw þis maister of þe knyghtis, sho knew hym well enogh & he hur. Ibid., 414. I know þe not, bod I know þat gown well enogh.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XXI. i. 839. And by cause of hyr fayre speche Syr Mordred trusted hyr wel ynough.

1579.  J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, D 7. Which mought wel ynough be the cause why the Pope decked hym with hys title of most christian king.

1585.  Parsons, Chr. Exerc., Pref. 4. The vulgar translation is known welinough.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xxx. (1592), 473. But the Rabbines saw wellynough that the miracles of Iesus could not be denied.

1631.  Shirley, Sch. Compl., V. i. 68. He gaue me two or three kicks, which I deseru’d well enough.

1710–1.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 11 Jan. The scheme … would have done well enough in good hands.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, I. xvii. 119. They liked not the humour he seemed to be in well enough to comply with his request.

  VI.  23. Employed without construction to introduce a remark or statement, sometimes implying that the speaker or writer accepts a situation, etc., already expressed or indicated, or desires to qualify this in some way, but frequently used merely as a preliminary or resumptive word.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xl. § 4. Wella, wisan men, wel, gað ealle on þone weʓ [etc.].

c. 1315.  Shoreham, Poems, I. 285. Wel, broþer, Ne non ne may icristned be Ar he his boren of moder.

[1382.  Wyclif, Isaiah xliv. 16 He … is chaufid, and seide, Vah, or weel, I am hat. Ibid. (1388), Ezek. xxvi. 2. Wel! the ȝatis of puplis ben brokun.]

c. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 505. ‘Well,’ seyde Apollo, ‘yef he on erthe bee, Wyth my brennyng chare I shall hym confound.’

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst., Counc. Jews, 76. Wel, serys, ȝe sal se … I xal correcte hym for his trespas.

1529.  More, Dyalogue, I. xxi. 27 b. Well quod I yet wold I wit one thyng more.

1550.  Crowley, Way to Wealth, 320. Wel, loke to this geare be tyme.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, I. 13. Wel, thee to please, I wil [go] to Ioue.

1589.  [? Lyly], Pappe w. Hatchet, B ij. Squirrilitie were a better word: well, let me alone to squirrell them.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 47. This is a very scuruy tune to sing at a mans Funerall: well, here’s my comfort. Drinkes.

1652.  H. Bell, Luther’s Colloq. Mensalia, 293. They … take from us what wee have. Well! they will repent it.

1691.  trans. Emiliane’s Observ. Journ. Naples, 207. Well, (said he) I shall make a shift … to eat them with my Fingers.

1711.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 3 Nov. Well, but as I was saying, what care I for your Mayor?

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar, xii. Well, my boy, what have you brought us from the fair?

1779.  Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 261. He asked, ‘Well, and how is George?’

1826.  Galt, Last of Lairds, xvii. 151. ‘I understood that Mr. Mailings … was one of your most particular friends.’ ‘Well, and what of that?’

1863.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 170. Well, I returned from that visit quite set up.

1891.  Fiske, Holiday Stor., 197. As works of art—well, they were rather too highly colored for works of art.

  b.  sb. An instance of this use of the word.

1866.  Lowell, Biglow P., Ser. II. Introd. (1912), 282. A friend … told me that he once heard five ‘wells’ … precede the answer to an inquiry.

1885.  Proc. Amer. Soc. Psych. Research, I. 312 (Cent.). The ‘wells’ and ‘ahs,’ ‘don’t-you-know’s’ and other stop-gap interjections.

  24.  Well, well, denoting surprise, resignation or acquiescence.

[1388.  Wyclif, Ps. xxxiv. 21. Thei seiden, Wel, wel! oure iȝen han sien.

c. 1420.  Prymer (1895), 66 (Ps. xl. 15). Bere þei her confusioun anoon, þat seien to me, ‘wel! wel!’]

c. 1480.  Henryson, Town & C. Mouse, x. ‘Weill, weill, sister,’ quod the rurale mous [etc.].

1546.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 70. Well well (quoth she) many wels, many buckets.

1675.  Cotton, Burlesque, 183 Apol. Well! well! but he were best take heed How he attaques my Maiden-head.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 533, ¶ 1. Well, well, you may banter as long as you please.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., xlii. But well, well!—it will last my time.

1847.  Helps, Friends in C., I. vii. 117. Well, well, we will leave these heights, and descend in little drops of criticism.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xv. ‘Father,’… you must not talk like that.’ ‘Well, well, my dear,’ said her father, ‘well, well.’

  b.  with intervening noun (in vocative).

c. 1550.  R. Wever, Lusty Juventus (c. 1560), D j b. Well wanton well, I wysse I can tel [etc.].

1554.  Interl. Youth (facs. Waley), B iij. Well wanton well, fye for shame.

1598.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., I. (1601), B 1 b. Well Cosen well, I see you are e’ene past hope Of all reclaime.

1605.  Chapman, All Fooles, II. i. E 1. Well, wag, well, wilt thou still deceiue thy father…?

a. 1652.  Brome, Mad Couple, I. i. (1653), B 6 b. Well wag well, you must not now put me off with my wife.

  25.  Very well, denoting agreement, approval or acquiescence.

  In the absence of construction the distinction between the adverbial and adjectival use becomes obscured: cf. WELL a. 7 and 10.

1564.  Brief Exam., D j b. You wyll say, we haue a commaundement of the Lorde…. Very well.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 518. We were chas’d … By five Sloops,… says the Fellow…. Very well, said I, then it is apparent there is something in it.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., xlvii. The Baronet, though highly offended, could only say, ‘Very well, sir, it is very well.’

1866.  Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, xxxv. At last he said … ‘I agree—I must have time.’ ‘Very well. It is a bargain.’

1878.  Hardy, Ret. Native, VI. iii. ‘Very well, then,’ sighed Thomasin, ‘I will say no more.’

  26.  Well then, introducing a conclusion or further statement, or implying that one can naturally be drawn or made.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxxiii. 237. Wele þan, We sall frayst er they founde vs fer fro.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIX. (Percy Soc.), 138. Well then, quod she, I shall you nowe tell Howe the case standeth.

1535.  Coverdale, Ezek. iv. 15. Well than, I will graunte the to take cowes donge, for the donge off a man.

1542.  Recorde, Gr. Artes, N viij b. Well then go forthe, in the nexte space I fynd one counter, which I remoue forward.

1628.  J. Doughty, Serm., 10. Well then, let both principles of Church tenents and Scripture stand in force.

1647.  Cowley, Mistress, Wish, i. Well then; I now do plainly see, This busie world and I shall ne’re agree.

1679.  Dryden, Œdipus, III. i. 34. Dio. Basely you kill’d him. Adr. … Well then, I kill’d him basely.

1802–12.  Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 136, note. Well then, since we must stop somewhere, we will stop at a trillion.

1844.  Disraeli, Coningsby, III. i. Well then, there were Bolingbroke and Pitt.

1884.  B. L. Farjeon, Gt. Porter Sq. (ed. 6), xxxvii. 290. ‘Well then!’ she exclaimed; winding up the argument thus, as is the way with women.

  27.  With various additions, esp. well now, oh well, ah well.

  (a)  1599.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., IV. iv. Well now master Snip, let mee see your Bill.

1615.  T. Adams, Spiritual Navig., 19. Well yet, as salt and bitter as this Ocean the world is, there is some good wrought out of this ill.

1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, VIII. iii. ‘Well now,’ said he, ‘remember the sin of this breach of appointment lies wholly at your door.’

1889.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Mrs. Bob, xix. ‘What are you thinking about, Stevie?’… ‘Oh! well really, I can’t say.’

  (b)  a. 1779.  D. Graham, Writ. (1883), II. 56. Sawny. A well a well then good day to you good-mither.

1814.  Scott, Wav., xxix. Aweel, Duncan—did ye say your name was Duncan or Donald?’

1848.  Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, xxxi. The old woman tried to comfort her, beginning with her accustomed—‘Well-a-well!’

1868.  Le Fanu, Lost Name, I. xxii. 220. ‘Oh! well, after luncheon, then,’ said he.

  VII.  Comb. The adverb Well is extensively employed in combination with various parts of the verb, esp. the past and present participles, and in parasynthetic adjectives ending in -ed. In modern practice the latter are regularly hyphened. In attributive use the participial formations are properly hyphened, and the hyphen is also frequently employed even when the construction is predicative. On account of the large number of such combinations, all those of any standing (either by common or continued use, or in virtue of their source) are treated as main words, the less important or less common being printed in smaller type without definition, after the model of similar words in UN-. The normal insertion or omission of the hyphen, according to the construction of the word in the sentence, is indicated by printing it within parentheses, as well(-)baked.

  In the following enumeration of the different types of combinations the illustration is chronological, and partly includes words more fully exemplified below.

  28.  With past pples., as well-born, -bred, -done, etc., in predicative or attributive use.

Beowulf, 1927. Hyʓd swiðe ʓeong, wis, welþungen.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 111. Ʒif hwæt welʓedones bið.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xix. 12. Monn sum welboren.

c. 975.  Rushw. Gosp., John vi. 45. Alle larwas vel welʓilærde.

c. 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 385. Bot off lymmys he was weill maid With … schuldrys braid.

c. 1386.  [see DISPOSED 2].

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. viii. 190. It is merytorie and weel doon forto ȝeue thilk ensaumple.

1474.  Sir J. Paston, Lett., III. 107. He … lefte a greet garnyson theer, weell ffornysshyd in vytayll, and all other thynge.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxviii. 469. A well trauelled knight and well knowen.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. 128. His legges wel sette.

a. 1623.  Fletcher, Love’s Cure, III. iv. Cla. ’Tis ill for a fair Lady to be idle. Say. She had better be well-busied.

1631.  Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 548. An ancient and well allied familie.

1661.  Boyle, Physiol. Ess. (1669), 178. The hardness of a well-blown Bladder.

1746.  Francis, trans. Hor., Epist., I. vi. 58. Venus decks the well-be-money’d Swain.

1793.  Holcroft, trans. Lavater’s Physiogn., xxiii. 116. Well-arched and short foreheads are … not of long duration.

1851.  Mayne Reid, Scalp Hunters, xxi. This was said in well-accentuated … English.

1890.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Miner’s Right, xxxiii. The well-clothed, well-fed, well-amused passage through barren hours.

  29.  With present pples, in adjectival (predicative or attributive) use.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 107. Onʓean ða godan & ða wellibbendan. Ibid., lvii. 439. Wyrta … swiðe welstincenda.

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Spelman) cl. 5. Heriað hine on cimbalum wel sweʓendum.

1382.  Wyclif, Ps. xci. 15. Wel suffrende thei shul be. Ibid., Ecclus. xlvii. 14. A son weel felende [filius sensatus].

1432.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 405/2. The wynes … were … faire, fyne, wele drinking.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. xx. 274. Thilk word … is … so weel teching and dressing.

1477.  Paston Lett., III. 182. If ther be among theym eny pric horse … in especiall that he be well trottyng.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 40. Accompanied with … the well inchaunting skill of Musicke.

1597.  A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 38/2. Then with a well-cuttinge sawe, sawe of the whole legge.

1660.  Ingelo, Bentiv. & Ur., I. (1682), 148. The People express’d it with such exact harmony of well agreeing voices.

1670.  Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 12. If a lad has but a lusty and well-bearing memory … he proves a brave clergyman.

1844.  W. H. Mill, Serm. Tempt. Christ, iii. 77. That … view, even when sobered to a well-calculating morality.

1864.  R. L. De Coin, Hist. of Cult. Cotton & Tobacco, 279. You will also supply yourself with sticks split from some good or well-splitting wood.

1884.  McLaren, Spinning (ed. 2), 36. A vessel … containing a well-closing lid.

1889.  Baden-Powell, Pigsticking, 12. A sport which draws so well-paying a visitation on to their village.

  30.  With verbal sbs., as well-building, -guiding -joining, -keeping, etc.

  The later tendency is to employ good with the vbl. sb., and restrict well to the gerund.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter cxviii. 9. With þi wele-setting [L. ordinatione] lastes dai.

a. 1568.  Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 49. Finding paine in ill doing, and pleasure in well studiyng.

1586.  A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, II. (1625), 14. Weeting of my well-deeming.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, XVII. xcvi. Through my well guiding is your voiage donne.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. ii. 152. Car. And euer may your Highnesse yoake together … my doing well, With my well saying.

1623.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Discov. by Sea, C 2 b. A … large Armorie … with other Weapons and munition, which for goodnesse,… and well-keeping, is not second to any Noblemans in England.

1624.  Wotton, Elem. Archit., 1. Well building hath three Conditions.

1641.  Sanderson, Serm., Ad Aulam, xiii. (1674), II. 195. In the well-joy[n]ing consisteth the strenth of structure.

  b.  Freq. with vbl. sbs. followed by of.

c. 1440.  Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), I. lxiii. Vayne gladnes & wel payeng of thiselfe.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. iii. (1912), 19. The well bringing up of the people.

1596.  Harington, Anat. Metam. Ajax, Ep. L ij b. The wel handling of the matter.

1623.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Discov. by Sea, B 3 b. His goods are but lent him, by him that will one day call him to a reckoning, for the well or ill disposing of them.

a. 1639.  W. Whateley, Prototypes, III. xxxix. (1640), 17. The wel-husbanding of abundance.

1655.  D. Dickson, Ps. xcii. 4, in Spurgeon, Treas. David, IV. 272. One of the parts of the well-spending of the Sabbath.

1667.  Earl Orrery, St. Lett. (1742), 305. For the well constituting of the said corporations.

1668.  Dryden, Dram. Poesie, 46. The copiousness and well-knitting of the intrigues we have from Johnson.

1690.  Child, Disc. Trade (1698), 158. The well-making of our Woollen-Manufactures.

1691.  T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 119. The safety and well sailing of a Vessel.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 48. In the well draining of Cornlands lies a main advantage. Ibid., 50. The well covering of the Seed must be of great advantage.

1739.  Trowell, Treat. Husb., etc., 4. The well ploughing of the Land is a very great Advantage to all Seeds sown.

1766.  Complete Farmer, s.v. Plough, The well going of the plough wholly depends upon the placing of this.

  c.  With gerunds followed by an object or preposition.

1568[?].  in Pettus, Fodinæ Reg. (1670), 61. Rules and Ordinances for the well-governing the Affairs of the Society, etc.

1625.  K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, V. xiv. 383. For the love of her … hee would not faile in well-looking to his charge.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 138. Because of … the wel-seating it … he allured out of Babilon sixe hundred thousand soules.

1693.  G. St. Lo, England’s Safety, title-p., A Sure Method for … Raising Qualified Seamen for the well Manning Their Majesties Fleet on any Occasion.

1699.  T. C[ockman], trans. Tully’s Offices, 135. By Moderation … we mean … the knowledge of Well-timing whatever we do.

1765.  Gale, in Phil. Trans., LV. 197. The well-peopling the colonies, and securing our new acquisitions.

1766.  Complete Farmer, s.v. Lucern, The grand secret of well-managing a trading populous country.

1854.  Poultry Chron., II. 351/2. The … all-important necessity of well matching the poultry.

1890.  A. P. Morton, trans. Le Roux’ Acrobats & Mountebanks, 168. In well calculating the strength of the steed.

  31.  With verbs, as well-ally, -clothe, -employ, etc. Now rare.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter civ. 9. He was mined … of his witeword hende … Þat he weleset [Vulg. disposuit] for Abraham sake.

14[?].  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 602/23. Persoleo,… to welwone.

1563.  Man, Musculus’ Commonpl., 286 b. Seyng that the mystery of the holy Trinitye did not well lyke with that people.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., xvii. 6. That of so great Descent, and of so large a Dower, Might well-allie their House.

1670.  Milton, Hist. Brit., III. 129. Prowlers … intent upon all occasions … to pamper and well line themselves.

1851.  (title) Robert Owen’s Journal. Explanatory of the Means to Well-place and Well-feed, Well-clothe, Well-lodge, Well-employ, Well-govern, and Cordially unite the Populations of the World.

  32.  Forming parasynthetic adjectives in -ed, as well-ancestored, -dispositioned, -eared, etc.

  Cf. OE. welwillednes.

1530.  Palsgr., 442/2. This sworde is well backed.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 495. Of bodie he was slender,… well membred, and strongly made.

1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. xviii. 34, 63. He had bin a well-sinewed man.

1591.  Greene, Farew. Folly (1617), I 4 b. The Gentleman is well forehanded and well foreheaded.

1630.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., xlii. 107. Why perfectly limmed; not a cripple? Why well-sensed; not a foole?

1671.  Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. vii. 52. That those that shall be received, be thereto called by God, and be well-dispositioned.

1688.  J. Grubb, Brit Heroes, vii. Castor the flame of fiery steed, With well-spur’d boots took down.

1704.  Hymn to Victory, lx. 41. Old English Courage scorns those trifling things, The Higher Ground, the Well-flank’d Wings.

1804.  Mitford, Inquiry, 372. A well-eared poet will of course avoid cacophony in rimes.

1855.  Poultry Chron., III. 452. Her eggs are well formed and well-shelled.

1857.  Gosse, Omphalos, xi. 326. The formidable Shark,… well-toothed adult.

1891.  Harper’s Mag., July, 318/1. She is true to the well-ancestored, rich, dull respectability from which she springs.

1894.  Outing, Sept., 427/2. The five brace of grand, plump, well-plumaged birds.

  33.  With adjectives.

a. 1780.  Braes o Yarrow, vii. in Child, Ballads, IV. 165/1. Nine well-wight men lay waiting him.

1797–1803.  Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, xxviii. The two girls … found themselves so well-sufficient … to themselves, that it was eleven o’clock … before they quitted the supper-room.

1853.  Tait’s Mag., XX. 267. Its accession … would bring no well-wieldable strength with it.

1886.  J. Corbett, Fall of Asgard, I. 115. The charm of his face were the well-open eyes.