compound adv. Obs.
1. Qualifying a comparative: Far and away, much. Cf. WELLA B.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 215. Þis is þe lif of þis lordis … And wel-a-wey wers and I shulde al telle. Ibid. (1377), B. XII. 263. Þe larke, þat is a lasse foule, is more louelich of ledne, And wel awey of wenge swifter þan þe pecok.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 119. And somdele lasse it [the river] was than Seyn But it was strayghter wel away.
2. Used elliptically with can and a verb implied: well away with = put up with, tolerate, endure. Cf. AWAY 16.
1569. Blague, Sch. Conceytes, 2. Whose pride I could not well away with.
1587. Holinshed, Chron., III. 27/1. He … could well awaie with bodilie labour [1577 II. 334/2 could well endure trauaile and bodily labour].
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 14 (1619), 532. They can well away with either religion, but care greatly for neither.
1622. Gataker, Spirituall Watch (ed. 2), 70. It is no small degree of euill, when a man can well away with euill in others.
a. 1629. Hinde, J. Bruen, xxxvii. (1641), 116. This Master Done being young and youthly,… could not well away with the strict observation of the Lords day.
b. To bear or submit to (do something).
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Alcib. (1595), 234. Notwithstanding the people of Athens could well a way to liue like subiects vnder the gouernement of a fewe.
