I. ˈwel noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English welle, from Old English (northern & Midland dialect) welle; akin to Old High German wella wave, Old Norse vella boiling heat, Old English weallan to bubble, boil — more at well III
1.
a. : an issue of water from the earth : a spring rising to the surface of the earth and forming a pool or rivulet : a pool fed by a spring
the well flows in a pure and abundant stream from the granite rock — J.M.Jephson & L.A.Reeve
b. : a spring of water traditionally held to be of miraculous origin or to have supernatural healing or magical powers and often associated with a particular saint
St. Gulval's Well … was famous for its prophetic properties — W.C.Meller
c.
(1) : mineral spring
(2) wells plural : a place where mineral springs are located and where invalids often resort : watering place 3, spa — used chiefly in place names
Tunbridge Wells
d. chiefly Scotland : a fountain fed by a spring
e.
(1) : something resembling a spring (as in flowing or being used for drinking)
start the wells of plenty bubbling … with British gold — J.P.Fitzpatrick
(2) : an origin from which something springs or arises : a source of supply : fountain , wellspring
the wells of his loquacity were dried up — C.S.Forester
the native well of English in our young — J.M.Barzun
(3) : a dangerous eddy : whirlpool — used especially of eddies near the northern coast of Scotland
2. : a pit or hole sunk (as by digging, boring, or drilling) into the earth to such a depth as to reach a supply of water, generally having a cylindrical form, and often walled with stone, bricks, or tubbing to prevent the earth from caving in
3. : a part of a boat or other craft resembling a well: as
a. : a vertical enclosure in the middle of a ship's hold that reaches from the bottom to the lower deck and that contains and is designed to protect from damage and facilitate the inspection of the pumps — called also pump well
b. : a compartment in the hold of a fishing boat that is tight at the sides but has holes in the bottom to let in water to keep fish alive
c.
(1) : a vertical passage into which a propeller may be drawn up or from which a periscope may be raised
(2) : a hollow compartment recessed in an airplane wing or fuselage into which a unit (as a wing flap or landing gear wheel) retracts
d. : an enclosure in a ship's bottom into which water drains and is then pumped out ; especially : the space between two tanks or sections of the double bottom or between either and a bulkhead
e. : a vertical passage in the bow of some old-style monitors in which the anchor is stowed
f. : the part of the main deck between the raised forecastle and the poop of a well-decked ship
4. : a shaft or pit dug or bored in the earth: as
a. : one used for the storage of ice
b. : a shaft or excavation in the earth made in military mining from which run branches or galleries
c. : a shaft or hole sunk to obtain oil, brine, or gas
an oil well
salt wells
d. : relief well
e.
(1) : a pit or hole in the ground reaching to hardpan or bedrock
(2) : a hollow cylinder of reinforced concrete, steel, timber, or masonry built in such a hole as a support for a bridge or building
f. : a tile stack for drainage
5. : a part of a building or similar structure resembling a well: as
a. : an open space extending vertically through floors of a structure (as a stairwell or elevator shaft)
a spiral stairway with an open well extending through three stories — American Guide Series: Maryland
b. : the space in an English law court set off immediately in front of the judge's bench and usually occupied by solicitors
c. : an open shaft formed by surrounding walls and extending vertically through the floors of a structure to provide light and air to interior areas
d. : the place in a lecture hall, legislative chamber, or similar large assembly room where the speaker is located and around which the seats rise in tiers or on a slope : the area between the rostrum or stage and the first row of seats : pit
6. : a heraldic bearing representing the part of the wall of a well aboveground
7. : a vessel or space having a construction or shape that suggests a well for water: as
a. : a space or receptacle resembling a box located in the body of a vehicle and used for luggage
b. : a deep drawer or hollow interior area used as a receptacle in a piece of furniture (as a desk or bureau)
pine cupboard … having hinged cover over a well — Parke-Bernet Galleries Cat.
a well with a compartmented interior
c. : the lower part of a furnace into which the molten metal runs
d. : a small receptacle in a larger vessel or unit
the well in a jar of paste
the well of a fountain pen
this bent pipe had a bowl which retained the objectionable moisture in its well — Irish Digest
lubricating oil wells located in a planer bed
— see inkwell
e.
(1) : an indentation or cavity in a surface
tree wells
cellar window wells
(2) : one of the tiny depressed spots incised or etched in a gravure plate and holding the ink when the surface of the plate is wiped clean before a sheet is printed
(3) : the dark center of a diamond cut too thick
8.
a. : something resembling a well in being damp, cool, deep, or dark
a great well of a cupboard
make your room a cool well of dusk — Claudia Cassidy
b. : something resembling a well in constituting a deep vertical hole
the well in a glacier
poked wells in the biscuit to hold the molasses — Eudora Welty
a stove well
c. : something held to resemble a well in constituting a deep reservoir from which one may draw
a great well of friendship and respect for … the United States — R.M.Nixon
the inner well of strength into which the peasant woman … must repeatedly dip — Lucy Crockett
9.
a. : a pronounced minimum of a variable in physics
energy well
potential well
b. : a region in which such minimum occurs
10. : stilling basin
11. : fountain I 4
12. : a small leather cup fixed to or suspended from an archer's belt to hold the tips of arrows thrust thereunder
II. verb, adjective
Etymology: Middle English welle, from welle, n.
1. : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a well
utilized the well principle in construction
a well cover
well rope
well shape
2. : used in connection with a well
a well sweep
well drill
3. : designed so as to have a part that is held to resemble a well
well railroad cars
the well type of saddle
well slides
4. : having a wellhole
a well staircase
well stairs
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English wellen, from Old English (northern & Midland dialect) wellan to cause to well; akin to Middle High German wellen to cause to well, Old Norse vella; causative from the root of Old English weallan to bubble, boil, Old High German wallan, Old Norse vella to well over, boil, Latin volvere to roll — more at voluble
intransitive verb
1. : to rise to the surface in a copious stream and then usually flow forth
a clear small stream … welled from a rock hard by — G.P.R.James
tears welled up in her eyes
a spring … welled out of the rock into a stone basin — Willa Cather
2. : to rise to the surface like a flood of liquid : spring up and often pour forth
anger welled in his stomach like bile — Hugh MacLennan
— often used with up
great pity welled up from his generous heart — Rafael Sabatini
an immense yearning for security welled up through the land — Oscar Handlin
transitive verb
: to pour forth from the depths
some classic fountain … welled its pure waters in a sacred shade — Washington Irving
IV. adverb
( bet·ter ˈbed.ə(r), -etə- ; best ˈbest)
Etymology: Middle English wel, from Old English; akin to Old High German wela, wola well, Old Norse vel, Gothic waila well, Old English wyllan to wish — more at will
1.
a. : in a good or proper manner : in accordance with a high standard of morality : in a way that is morally good : justly , rightly
it is … doing well that entitles us to heaven — William Burkitt
b. : satisfactorily with respect to conduct or action
worked well under difficult conditions
the inability … of these children to do well in advanced academic areas — J.B.Conant
2.
a. : in a manner that constitutes good treatment or confers a benefit : considerately , generously , kindly
wished them well
spoke well of your idea
b. : in a kindly or friendly manner : with friendly words : with favor or welcome
was well received at court
her first novel was well received by the critics
3.
a. : with skill or aptitude : in a skillful or expert manner : excellently , expertly
sing well
paints well
a wonderful story, well written and sensitive — Peter Blake
b. : satisfactorily
plan has worked well
c. : with good appearance or effect : elegantly
carried himself well
4. : with careful or close attention : attentively
watch well what I do
5. : to a high point or degree
they got on well together
well deserved the honor
she did not seem so well pleased
the legendary lore which I love so well — Sir Walter Scott
you will be well rewarded by a visit — Dana Burnet
— often used in combination
a well -equipped kitchen
well -populated areas
6. : to the full degree or extent : fully , quite
well aware of the difficulties
well worth the price
well out of sight
well past the appropriate age
arrived before dinner had well begun
well able to take care of himself
7.
a. : in a way appropriate to the facts or circumstances : fittingly , properly , rightly
as the author well says
a large box will answer the need almost equally well
b. : in a prudent manner : sensibly — used with do
reasonable people … will do well to demand better evidence — M.R.Cohen
do well to examine the grounds for this adverse opinion — I.A.Richards
8. : in accordance with the occasion or circumstances : as a natural result or consequence : with propriety or good reason : naturally , properly
I cannot well refuse
this decision may well be questioned
took pride, as well she might, in her hair — Samuel Richardson
old residents … speak of it with considerable affection, as well they might — John De Meyer
9.
a. : in such manner as is desirable or pleasing : as one could wish : without harm or accident : favorably , fortunately , happily , prosperously , successfully
everything went well that morning
piano and violin do not mix too well even in chamber music — P.H.Lang
b. : with success from a material point of view : advantageously , properly
he married well
he hadn't made a fortune … but he'd done fairly well — Frank Sargeson
10.
a. : without trouble or difficulty : easily , readily
nor were the refugees such as a country can well spare — T.B.Macaulay
appearing to know more of that abode of evil than she well could — H.S.Scott
no transcript can well be found which does not differ from its prototype in some small points — F.H.A.Scrivener
b. : in all likelihood : indeed
a basic conflict that may well last for the balance of this century — J.B.Conant
maintenance of the high level of expenditures … might well have a disastrous effect — D.W.Mitchell
11. : in a state of prosperity, plenty, or comfort : in a prosperous or affluent manner
he lives well
12. : in a thorough manner : in an extent approaching completeness
after being well dried with a sponge
13.
a. : without doubt, uncertainty, or question : clearly , definitely
well remembered the stirring appeal
well knew the penalty
b. : closely , familiarly , intimately
must know their own country well — London Calling
c. : in exact outlines : clearly , definitely
the tree stood out well against the horizon
remembered well the incident he mentioned
14. : with spirit and courage : bravely , gallantly
fought well against overwhelming odds
15. : with equanimity or good nature : without resentment
reported that he took the disappointment well
16. : to a considerable extent : more than a little : considerably , far
grows in hot, moist regions well into the temperate zone — G.S.Brady
a population of well over a million people — L.D.Stamp
well north of the island — George Bradshaw
17. : enough , sufficiently — used in giving nautical commands (as concerning hoisting or lowering or bracing yards)
•
- as well
- as well as
V. “, dial ˈwal interjection
Etymology: Middle English wel, from Old English, from wel, adverb
1. — used to express satisfaction with what has been said or done
2.
a. — used to express assent or resignation
b. — used to express surprise and expostulation and often reduplicated
3. — used to indicate resumption of a thread of discourse or to introduce a remark
VI. ˈwel adjective
Etymology: Middle English wel, from wel, adverb
1.
a. : being in good standing or estimation : being on good terms : being in favor
of great importance to us … to be well with the French government — H.J.Temple
b. archaic : being on terms of intimacy or familiarity
all our set were well with some fine woman or other — B.H.Malkin
c. : pleased or satisfied with oneself
being extremely well with himself — Agnes Bennett
2. : being a cause for satisfaction or approval : satisfactory , pleasing
saw … that all was not well with him — Washington Irving
all's well that ends well
3.
a. : being in a state of affluence or prosperity : well-off
he must be very well in the world — B.H.Malkin
— see well-to-do
b. : being in satisfactory condition or circumstances
he will not change while he is as well where he is
4. : being in accordance with advantage : deserving to be recommended : advisable , desirable
it is not well to anger him
it might be well for you to review the four basic steps — W.J.Reilly
— sometimes used with as
if you stay … it is as well to bring plenty of provisions — G.W.Murray
5.
a. : being in health : sound in body and mind : free of or recovered from sickness, infirmity, disease, or ailment : healthy
a well man
he looks well
b.
(1) : cured
the rheumatism … is now near quite well — Jonathan Swift
(2) : being in a good or sound condition
his health … is still pretty well — Oliver Goldsmith
6. : pleasing or satisfactory in appearance
looked very well when he was dressed — Ellery Queen
the polished floor looks well — Herbert Spencer
7. archaic : good in quality or character
it is really very well for a novel — Jane Austen
8. : being a cause for thankfulness : lucky and gratifying : fortunate
it is well that this has happened
Synonyms: see healthy
•
- all very well
- very well
- well and good
VII. ˈwel noun
( plural well )
: a well person : one sound in health — usually used collectively
prevent the well from becoming infected
VIII. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English wel, from wel, adverb, well
obsolete : well-being
restore you to your wonted well — Edmund Spenser
IX. noun
( -s )
Etymology: well (IV)
chiefly Britain : well enough
when best to operate and when to leave well alone — Harvey Graham
content to let well alone and to maintain … a defensive policy — C.E.Robinson