I. ˈwēl, esp before pause or consonant ˈwēəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English wele, weale, from Old English wela, akin to Old Saxon welo weal, Old English wel well — more at well , adverb
1. obsolete : wealth , riches
2. : a sound, healthy, or prosperous state : well-being , prosperity , happiness , welfare — used chiefly in the phrase weal or woe
power of determining the weal or woe of the people — J.G.Frazer
3. obsolete : body politic , commonweal
the special watchmen of our English weal — Shakespeare
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by wheal ) of wale
: to raise weals on (as with a whip) : wale
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by wheal ) of wale
: a stripe or raised line made by a stroke (as of a whip) on the skin : wale