well

views updated

well3 in a good manner, to a good extent, fully. OE. wel(l) = OS. (Du.) wel, ON. vel; also with adv. suffix (and vowel-variation) OS. wela, wala, wola, OHG. wela, wola (G. wohl), Goth. waila; prob. f. IE. wel- wol- WILL2. As adj. †happy, fortunate XIII; prosperous (now only in well to do, well off) XIV; in sound health XVI; orig. developed from the adv. in impers. uses, e.g. wel is pe. Comp. well-wisher XVI.

More From encyclopedia.com