int. and adv. Obs. Forms: 1 wel lá, 3–4 wella, wela, wele, (3 wælla, wælle, welle, wellen). [OE. wel lá (see WELL adv. and LO int.), partly confused with wá lá (see WALE int.) and weʓ lá (WEILA). Cf. also OE. wel ʓá, weol ʓá, glossing L. heia and euge, respectively.]
A. int. a. Well then. b. Ah! alas!
Also followed by a sb. as object = alas for…, or a clause = alas that ….
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiv. 88. Wella, men, wel.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, iii. 627. Hwæt þa se læce … cwæð mid wope: wella basilius, ʓir ðu sylf noldest, nære þu ʓit forðfaran.
c. 1205. Lay., 3456. Wallan, dæð, wela, deað, Þat þu me nelt fordemen. Ibid., 7875. Welle broðer Nennius þat ich þe quic nabbe.
B. As adv. or intensive prefix: Very, exceedingly.
c. 1205. Lay., 5970. Wælle muchel wes þa wop, þæ Belin þeonne wende. Ibid., 12805. Þeder com þe ohte mon, wælla wel wes he ibon. Ibid., 29622. Welle uain [c. 1275 wele glad] wes he þer uore. Ibid., 31258. Wellen henden wes þe mon Osric ihaten.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 831. Þe gestes gay & ful glad … Welawynnely wlonk.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 518. Wela wynne is þe wort þat waxes þeroute. Ibid., 2084. Wela wylle was þe way, þer þay bi wod schulden.
a. 1400. Wars Alex., 1970. Wella [v.r. wele] wide ware þe wele,… Miȝt þou þe marches of Messedoyne mayntene þiselfe.
