well

well
\ \ English has two distinct words well, both of ancient ancestry. The adverb, ‘satisfactorily’ [OE], has relatives throughout the Germanic languages (German wohl, Dutch wel, Swedish väl, and Danish vel), and probably goes back ultimately to the Indo-European base *wel-, *wol-, which also gave English voluntary, wealth, and will. It was not used as an adjective until the 13th century. Wellwater-hole’ [OE] is descended from the Germanic base *wal-, *wel- ‘roll’ (source also of English wallet, wallow, waltz, welter, etc), and so etymologically denotes a place where waterbubblesup. This original notion of turbulent overflowing liquid is better preserved in the related verb wellgush’ [OE], which to begin with meantboil’, and hencemelt metal’ (‘He made him drink welled lead’, Holy Rood 1300), and produced English weld.
\ \ Cf.VOLUNTARY, WEALTH, WILL; VOLUME, WALLOW, WALTZ, WELD, WELTER

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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 — 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 — 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 — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Sommaire 1 Informatique 2 Lingerie 3 Toponymie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • well-to-do — {adj.} Having or making enough money to live comfortably; prosperous. * /John s father owns a company and his family is well to do./ Often used with the like a plural noun. * /This is the part of town where the well to do live./ Compare: IN THE… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • well-to-do — {adj.} Having or making enough money to live comfortably; prosperous. * /John s father owns a company and his family is well to do./ Often used with the like a plural noun. * /This is the part of town where the well to do live./ Compare: IN THE… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • WELL — may refer to:* WELL FM, a radio station (88.7 FM) licensed to Dadeville, Alabama, United States * WELL LP, a low power television station (channel 45) licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States * WELL (virtual community), an online… …   Wikipedia

  • Well — Well, v. t. To pour forth, as from a well. Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well — Well, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Welled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Welling}.] [OE. wellen, AS. wyllan, wellan, fr. weallan; akin to OFries. walla, OS. & OHG. wallan, G. wallen, Icel. vella, G. welle, wave, OHG. wella, walm, AS. wylm; cf. L. volvere to roll, Gr …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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