Well

Well
Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v["a]l, Goth. wa['i]la; originally meaning, according to one's will or wish. See {Will}, v. t., and cf. {Wealth}.] [1913 Webster] 1. In a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly. [1913 Webster]

If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. --Gen. iv. 7. [1913 Webster]

2. Suitably to one's condition, to the occasion, or to a proposed end or use; suitably; abundantly; fully; adequately; thoroughly. [1913 Webster]

Lot . . . beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere. --Gen. xiii. 10. [1913 Webster]

WE are wellable to overcome it. --Num. xiii. 30. [1913 Webster]

She looketh well to the ways of her household. --Prov. xxxi. 27. [1913 Webster]

Servant of God, well done! well hast thou fought The better fight. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Fully or about; -- used with numbers. [Obs.] ``Well a ten or twelve.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Well nine and twenty in a company. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

4. In such manner as is desirable; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favorably; advantageously; conveniently. ``It boded well to you.'' --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Know In measure what the mind may well contain. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

All the world speaks well of you. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

5. Considerably; not a little; far. [1913 Webster]

Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age. --Gen. xviii. 11. [1913 Webster]

Note: Well is sometimes used elliptically for it is well, as an expression of satisfaction with what has been said or done, and sometimes it expresses concession, or is merely expletive; as, well, the work is done; well, let us go; well, well, be it so. [1913 Webster]

Note: Well, like above, ill, and so, is used before many participial adjectives in its usual adverbial senses, and subject to the same custom with regard to the use of the hyphen (see the Note under {Ill}, adv.); as, a well-affected supporter; he was well affected toward the project; a well-trained speaker; he was well trained in speaking; well-educated, or well educated; well-dressed, or well dressed; well-appearing; well-behaved; well-controlled; well-designed; well-directed; well-formed; well-meant; well-minded; well-ordered; well-performed; well-pleased; well-pleasing; well-seasoned; well-steered; well-tasted; well-told, etc. Such compound epithets usually have an obvious meaning, and since they may be formed at will, only a few of this class are given in the Vocabulary. [1913 Webster]

{As well}. See under {As}.

{As well as}, and also; together with; not less than; one as much as the other; as, a sickness long, as well as severe; London is the largest city in England, as well as the capital.

{Well enough}, well or good in a moderate degree; so as to give satisfaction, or so as to require no alteration.

{Well off}, in good condition; especially, in good condition as to property or any advantages; thriving; prosperous.

{Well to do}, well off; prosperous; -- used also adjectively. ``The class well to do in the world.'' --J. H. Newman.

{Well to live}, in easy circumstances; well off; well to do. --Shak. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Well to do — Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well — Well, n. [OE. welle, AS. wella, wylla, from weallan to well up, surge, boil; akin to D. wel a spring or fountain. ????. See {Well}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain. [1913 Webster] Begin, then,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • well — well1 [wel] n. [ME welle < OE wella, akin to weallan, to boil up, akin to Ger welle, wave, wallen, to boil < IE base * wel , to turn, roll > WALK, L volvere, to roll] 1. a flow of water from the earth; natural spring and pool 2. a hole… …   English World dictionary

  • Well — is an English adverb with irregular comparison. Well may also refer to:* Water well, an artificial excavation or structure for the purpose of withdrawing water * Oil well, a hole drilled through the Earth s surface for the purpose of extracting… …   Wikipedia

  • well — Ⅰ. well [1] ► ADVERB (better, best) 1) in a good or satisfactory way. 2) in a condition of prosperity or comfort. 3) in a favourable or approving manner. 4) in a thorough manner. 5) …   English terms dictionary

  • Well — Well, a. [1913 Webster] 1. Good in condition or circumstances; desirable, either in a natural or moral sense; fortunate; convenient; advantageous; happy; as, it is well for the country that the crops did not fail; it is well that the mistake was… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well — bezeichnet eine Vertiefung in einer Mikrotiterplatte Well ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Günther van Well (1922–1993), deutscher Diplomat und Staatssekretär Roman Well (eigentlich Ruvelis Leiba Sobolevicius, später Robert Soblen;… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • well — well, well There is much uncertainty about whether forms such as well( )made and well( )received should contain a hyphen or be spelt as two words. The normal rule is that the combination is hyphened when it occurs in attributive position (i.e.… …   Modern English usage

  • well- — well, well There is much uncertainty about whether forms such as well( )made and well( )received should contain a hyphen or be spelt as two words. The normal rule is that the combination is hyphened when it occurs in attributive position (i.e.… …   Modern English usage

  • well — [wel] noun [countable] another name for an oil well * * * well UK US /wel/ noun [C] ► NATURAL RESOURCES a deep hole in the ground from which you can get water: »These two tributaries of the Yellowstone River supply water for farms and wells in… …   Financial and business terms

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