adv. dial. [Colloquial reduction of WELL-NIGH.] Well-nigh, almost, nearly.
1615. W. Goddard, Neaste of Waspes, No. 81. Shee screakes, cryes shees soe full, she burst shall wellie. Ibid., No. 82. Shee scarce gone, hir back not turned wellie.
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, III. (1652), G 4. Your Worships Charity to a poore Crytur welly starv’d.
1649. Man in the Moon, No. 30. 235. Our long night of sorrow is now welly past over.
1717. Obliging Husband, 10. You’ve welly gally’d me with ta’king on’t.
c. 1746. J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lancs. Dial., Wks. (1862), 40. Beleemy, Tummus, I welly lost my wynt.
1855. Mrs. Gaskell, North & S., xvii. A pack of spiritless, down-trodden men; welly clemmed to death.
1859. Geo. Eliot, Adam Bede, lii. I should ha’ been sure of her then, as she wouldn’t go away from me to Snowfield, welly thirty mile off.
