The origin of the word well

Princeton’s WordNetRate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. wellnoun

   a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine

2. wellnoun

   a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid

3. well, wellspring, fountainheadnoun

   an abundant source

   «she was a well of information»

4. wellnoun

   an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)

5. welladjective

   an enclosed compartment in a ship or plane for holding something as e.g. fish or a plane’s landing gear or for protecting something as e.g. a ship’s pumps

6. welladjective

   in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury

   «appears to be entirely well»; «the wound is nearly well»; «a well man»; «I think I’m well; at least I feel well»

7. good, well(p)adjective

   resulting favorably

   «it’s a good thing that I wasn’t there»; «it is good that you stayed»; «it is well that no one saw you»; «all’s well that ends well»

8. well(p)verb

   wise or advantageous and hence advisable

   «it would be well to start early»

9. well, swelladverb

   come up, as of a liquid

   «Tears well in her eyes»; «the currents well up»

10. well, goodadverb

    (often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (`good’ is a nonstandard dialectal variant for `well’)

    «the children behaved well»; «a task well done»; «the party went well»; «he slept well»; «a well-argued thesis»; «a well-seasoned dish»; «a well-planned party»; «the baby can walk pretty good»

11. welladverb

    thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form

    «The problem is well understood»; «she was well informed»; «shake well before using»; «in order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked»; «well-done beef», «well-satisfied customers»; «well-educated»

12. well, easilyadverb

    indicating high probability; in all likelihood

    «I might well do it»; «a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster»; «you may well need your umbrella»; «he could equally well be trying to deceive us»

13. welladverb

    (used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully

    «a book well worth reading»; «was well aware of the difficulties ahead»; «suspected only too well what might be going on»

14. welladverb

    to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree

    «the project was well underway»; «the fetus has well developed organs»; «his father was well pleased with his grades»

15. welladverb

    favorably; with approval

    «their neighbors spoke well of them»; «he thought well of the book»

16. well, considerably, substantiallyadverb

    to a great extent or degree

    «I’m afraid the film was well over budget»; «painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger»; «the house has fallen considerably in value»; «the price went up substantially»

17. well, intimatelyadverb

    with great or especially intimate knowledge

    «we knew them well»

18. welladverb

    with prudence or propriety

    «You would do well to say nothing more»; «could not well refuse»

19. welladverb

    with skill or in a pleasing manner

    «she dances well»; «he writes well»

20. well, advantageouslyadverb

    in a manner affording benefit or advantage

    «she married well»; «The children were settled advantageously in Seattle»

21. well, comfortablyadverb

    in financial comfort

    «They live well»; «she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died»

22. welladverb

    without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor

    «took the joke well»; «took the tragic news well»

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.5 / 2 votes

1. wellcontraction

   we will

2. wellcontraction

   we shall

3. Etymology: weallan. Cognate with German wallen, Danish vælde.

Samuel Johnson’s DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Welladjective

   Well seems to be sometimes an adjective, though it is not always easy to determine its relations.

   1. Not sick; not unhappy.

   Mark, we use
   To say the dead are well.
   William Shakespeare, Ant. and Cleopatra.

   Lady, I am not well, else I should answer
   From a full flowing stomach.
   William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   In poison there is physick; and this news,
   That would, had I been well, have made me sick,
   Being sick, hath in some measure made me well.
   William Shakespeare.

   While thou art well, thou mayest do much good; but when thou art sick, thou can’st not tell what thou shalt be able to do: it is not very much nor very good. Few men mend with sickness, as there are but few who by travel and a wandering life become devout.
   Jeremy Taylor, Guide to Devotion.

   Men under irregular appetites never think themselves well, so long as they fancy they might be better; then from better they must rise to best.
   Roger L’Estrange.

   ’Tis easy for any, when well, to give advice to them that are not.
   William Wake, Preparation for Death.

   2. Convenient; happy.

   Holdings were so plentiful, and holders so scarce, as well was the landlord, who could get one to be his tenant.
   Carew.

   Charity is made the constant companion and perfection of all virtues; and well it is for that virtue where it most enters, and longest stays.
   Thomas Sprat, Sermons.

   This exactness is necessary, and it would be well too, if it extended itself to common conversation.
   John Locke.

   It would have been well for Genoa, if she had followed the example of Venice, in not permitting her nobles to make any purchase of lands in the dominions of a foreign prince.
   Ad.

   3. Being in favour.

   He followed the fortunes of that family; and was well with Henry the fourth.
   Dryden.

   4. Recovered from any sickness or misfortune.

   I am sorry
   For your displeasure; but all will sure be well.
   William Shakespeare.

   Just thoughts, and modest expectations are easily satisfied. If we don’t over-rate our pretensions, all will be well.
   Collier.

2. Welladverb

   Etymology: will, Gothick; well , Saxon; wel, Dutch; vel, Islandick.

   1. Not ill; not unhappily.

   Some sense, and more estate, kind heav’n
   To this well-lotted peer has given:
   What then? he must have rule and sway;
   Else all is wrong till he’s in play.
   Matthew Prior.

   2. Not ill; not wickedly.

   My bargains, and well-won thrift he calls int’rest.
   William Shakespeare.

   Thou one bad act with many deeds well done
   May’st cover.
   John Milton.

   3. Skilfully; properly.

   A private caution I know not well how to sort, unless I should call it political, by no means to build too near a great neighbour.
   Henry Wotton.

   Beware and govern well thy appetite.
   John Milton.

   Whether the learn’d Minerva be her theme,
   Or chaste Diana bathing in the stream;
   None can record their heavenly praise so well.
   Dryden.

   What poet would not mourn to see
   His brother write as well as he?
   Jonathan Swift.

   4. Not amiss; not unsuccessfully; not erroneously.

   Solyman commended them for a plot so well by them laid, more than he did the victory of others got by good fortune, not grounded upon any good reason.
   Richard Knolles.

   The soldier that philosopher well blam’d,
   Who long and loudly in the schools declaim’d.
   John Denham.

   ’Tis almost impossible to translate verbally and well.
   Dryden.

   5. Not insufficiently; not defectively.

   The plain of Jordan was well watered every where.
   Genesis.

   We are well able to overcome it.
   Num. xiii. 30.

   The merchant adventurers being a strong company, and well underset with rich men, held out bravely.
   Francis Bacon.

   6. To a degree that gives pleasure.

   I like well, in some places, fair columns upon frames of carpenters work.
   Francis Bacon.

   7. With praise; favourably.

   All the world speaks well of you.
   Alexander Pope.

   8. Well is sometimes like the French bien, a term of concession.

   The knot might well be cut, but untied it could not be.
   Philip Sidney.

   To know
   In measure what the mind can well contain.
   John Milton.

   9. It is a word by which something is admitted as the ground for a conclusion.

   Well, let’s away, and say how much is done.
   William Shakespeare.

   Well, by this author’s confession, a number superior are for the succession in the house of Hanover.
   Jonathan Swift.

   10. As well as. Together with; not less than.

   Coptos was the magazine of all the trade from Æthiopia, by the Nile, as well as of those commodities that came from the west by Alexandria.
   John Arbuthnot, on Coins.

   11. Well is him or me; bene est, he is happy.

   Well is him that dwelleth with a wife of understanding, and that hath not slipped with his tongue.
   Ecclus. xxv. 8.

   12. Well nigh. Nearly; almost.

   I freed well nigh half th’ angelick name.
   John Milton.

   13. It is used much in composition, to express any thing right, laudable, or not defective.

   Antiochus understanding him not be well affected to his affairs, provided for his own safety.
   2 Mac. iv. 21.

   There may be safety to the well-affected Persians; but to those which do conspire against us, a memorial of destruction.
   Esth. xvi. 23.

   Should a whole host at once discharge the bow,
   My well-aim’d shaft with death prevents the foe.
   Alexander Pope.

   What well-appointed leader fronts us here?
   William Shakespeare.

   Well-apparel’d April on the heel
   Of limping winter treads.
   William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.

   The pow’r of wisdom march’d before,
   And ere the sacrificing throng he join’d,
   Admonish’d thus his well-attending mind.
   Alexander Pope.

   Such musick
   Before was never made,
   But when of old the sons of morning sung,
   Whilst the Creator great
   His constellations set,
   And the well-balanc’d world on hinges hung.
   John Milton.

   Learners must at first be believers, and their master’s rules having been once made axioms to them, they mislead those who think it sufficient to excuse them, if they go out of their way in a well-beaten track.
   John Locke.

   He chose a thousand horse, the flow’r of all
   His warlike troops, to wait the funeral:
   To bear him back, and share Evander’s grief;
   A well-becoming, but a weak relief.
   Dryden.

   Those opposed files,
   Which lately met in the intestine shock,
   And furious close of civil butchery,
   Shall now, in mutual well-beseeming rank,
   March all one way.
   William Shakespeare, Hen. IV.

   O’er the Elean plains, thy well-breath’d horse
   Impels the flying car, and wins the course.
   Dryden.

   More dismal than the loud disploded roar
   Of brazen enginry, that ceaseless storms
   The bastion of a well-built city.
   Philips.

   He conducted his course among the same well-chosen friendships and alliances with which he began it.
   Addison.

   My son corrupts a well-derived nature
   With his inducement.
   William Shakespeare.

   If good accrue, ’tis conferr’d most commonly on the base and infamous; and only happening sometimes to well-deservers.
   Dryden.

   It grieves me he should desperately adventure the loss of his well-deserving life.
   Philip Sidney, b. ii.

   What a pleasure is well-directed study in the search of truth!
   John Locke.

   A certain spark of honour, which rose in her well-disposed mind, made her fear to be alone with him, with whom alone she desired to be.
   Philip Sidney, b. ii.

   The unprepossessed, the well-disposed, who both together make much the major part of the world, are affected with a due fear of these things.
   Robert South, Sermons.

   A clear idea is that, whereof the mind hath such a full and evident perception, as it does receive from an outward object, operating duly on a well-disposed organ.
   John Locke.

   Amid the main, two mighty fleets engage;
   Actium surveys the well-disputed prize.
   Dryden.

   The ways of well-doing are in number even as many, as are the kinds of voluntary actions: so that whatsoever we do in this world, and may do it ill, we shew ourselves therein by well-doing to be wise.
   Richard Hooker, b. ii.

   The conscience of well-doing may pass for a recompence.
   Roger L’Estrange.

   God will judge every man according to his works; to them, who by patient continuance in well-doing, endure through the heat and burden of the day, he will give the reward of their labour.
   John Rogers, Sermons.

   As far the spear I throw,
   As flies an arrow from the well-drawn bow.
   Alexander Pope.

   Fair nymphs and well-dress’d youths around her shone,
   But ev’ry eye was fixt on her alone.
   Alexander Pope.

   Such a doctrine in St. James’s air,
   Shou’d chance to make the well-drest rabble stare.
   Alexander Pope.

   The desire of esteem, riches, or power, makes men espouse she well-endowed opinions in fashion.
   John Locke.

   We ought to stand firm in well-established principles, and not be tempted to change for every difficulty.
   Isaac Watts.

   Echenus sage, a venerable man!
   Whose well-taught mind the present age surpass’d.
   Alexander Pope.

   Some reliques of the true antiquity, though disguised, a well-eyed man may happily discover.
   Edmund Spenser, on Ireland.

   How sweet the products of a peaceful reign?
   The heaven-taught poet, and enchanting strain:
   The well-fill’d palace, the perpetual feast;
   A land rejoicing, and a people blest.
   Alexander Pope.

   Turkish blood did his young hands imbrue.
   From thence returning with deserv’d applause,
   Against the Moors his well-flesh’d sword he draws.
   Dryden.

   Fairest piece of well-form’d earth,
   Urge not thus your haughty birth.
   Edmund Waller.

   A rational soul can be no more discerned in a well-formed, than ill-shaped infant.
   John Locke.

   A well-formed proposition is sufficient to communicate the knowledge of a subject.
   Isaac Watts.

   Oh! that I’d dy’d before the well-fought wall!
   Had some distinguish’d day renown’d my fall,
   All Greece had paid my solemn funerals.
   Alexander Pope.

   Good men have a well-grounded hope in another life; and are as certain of a future recompence, as of the being of God.
   Francis Atterbury.

   Let firm, well-hammer’d soles protect thy feet
   Through freezing snows.
   John Gay, Trivia.

   The camp of the heathen was strong, and well-harnessed, and compassed round with horsemen.
   1 Mic. iv. 7.

   Among the Romans, those who saved the life of a citizen, were dressed in an oaken garland; but among us, this has been a mark of such well-intentioned persons as would betray their country.
   Addison.

   He, full of fraudful arts,
   This well-invented tale for truth imparts.
   Dryden.

   He, by enquiry, got to the well-known house of Kalander.
   Philip Sidney.

   Soon as thy letters trembling I unclose,
   That well-known name awakens all my woes.
   Alexander Pope.

   Where proud Athens rears her tow’ry head,
   With opening streets, and shining structures spread,
   She past, delighted, with the well-known seats.
   Alexander Pope.

   From a confin’d well-manag’d store,
   You both employ and feed the poor.
   Edmund Waller.

   A noble soul is better pleas’d with a zealous vindicator of liberty, than with a temporizing poet, or well-manner’d courtslave, and one who is ever decent, because he is naturally servile.
   John Dryden, Juvenal. Dedication to.

   Well-meaners think no harm; but for the rest,
   Things sacred they pervert, and silence is the best.
   Dryden.

   By craft they may prevail on the weakness of some well-meaning men to engage in their designs.
   John Rogers, Sermons.

   He examines that well-meant, but unfortunate, lie of the conquest of France.
   Arbuthnot.

   A critick supposes he has done his part, if he proves a writer to have fail’d in an expression; and can it be wonder’d at, if the poets seem resolved not to own themselves in any error? for as long as one side despises a well-meant endeavour, the other will not be satisfied with a moderate approbation.
   Alexander Pope, Works. Preface to his.

   Many sober, well-minded men, who were real lovers of the peace of the kingdom, were imposed upon.
   Edward Hyde.

   Jarring int’rests of themselves create
   Th’ according musick of a well-mix’d state.
   Alexander Pope.

   When the blast of winter blows,
   Into the naked wood he goes;
   And seeks the tusky boar to rear,
   With well-mouth’d hounds, and pointed spear.
   Dryden.

   The applause that other people’s reason gives to virtuous and well-ordered actions, is the proper guide of children, till they grow able to judge for themselves.
   John Locke.

   The fruits of unity, next unto the well-pleasing of God, which is all in all, are towards those that are without the church; the other toward those that are within.
   Francis Bacon.

   The exercise of the offices of charity is always well-pleasing to God, and honourable among men.
   Francis Atterbury.

   My voice shall sound, as you do prompt mine ear;
   And I will stoop, and humble my intents
   To your well-practis’d wise directions.
   William Shakespeare, Hen. VI.

   The well-proportion’d shape, and beauteous face,
   Shall never more be seen by mortal eyes.
   Dryden.

   ’Twas not the hasty product of a day,
   But the well-ripen’d fruit of wise delay.
   Dryden.

   Procure those that are fresh gathered, strait, smooth, and well-rooted.
   John Mortimer, Husbandry.

   If I should instruct them to make well-running verses, they want genius to give them strength.
   Dryden.

   The eating of a well-seasoned dish, suited to a man’s palate, may move the mind, by the delight itself that accompanies the eating, without reference to any other end
   John Locke.

   Instead of well-set hair, baldness.
   Isa. iii. 24.

   Abraham and Sarah were old, and well-stricken in age.
   Genesis.

   Many well-shaped innocent virgins are waddling like big-bellied women.
   Spectator, №. 127.

   We never see beautiful and well-tasted fruits from a tree choaked with thorns and briars.
   John Dryden, Dufresnoy.

   The well-tim’d oars
   With sounding strokes divide the sparkling waves.
   Smith.

   Wisdom’s triumph is well-tim’d retreat,
   As hard a science to the fair as great.
   Alexander Pope.

   Mean time we thank you for your well-took labour.
   Go to your rest.
   William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

   Oh you are well-tun’d now; but I’ll let down the pegs that make this musick.
   William Shakespeare, Othello.

   Her well-turn’d neck he view’d,
   And on her shoulders her dishevel’d hair.
   Dryden.

   A well-weighed judicious poem, which at first gains no more upon the world than to be just received, insinuates itself by insensible degrees into the liking of the reader.
   Dryden.

   He rails
   On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift,
   Which he calls interest.
   William Shakespeare, Merch. of Venice.

   Each by turns the other’s bound invade,
   As, in some well-wrought picture, light and shade.
   Alexander Pope.

3. WELLnoun

   Etymology: welle, wœll , Saxon.

   1. A spring; a fountain; a source.

   Begin then, sisters of the sacred well,
   That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring.
   John Milton.

   As the root and branch are but one tree,
   And well and stream do but one river make;
   So if the root and well corrupted be,
   The stream and branch the same corruption take.
   Davies.

   2. A deep narrow pit of water.

   The muscles are so many well-buckets: when one of them acts and draws, ’tis necessary that the other must obey.
   Dryden.

   3. The cavity in which stairs are placed.

   Hollow newelled stairs are made about a square hollow newel: suppose the well-hole to be eleven foot long, and six foot wide, and we would bring up a pair of stairs from the first floor eleven foot high, it being intended a sky-light shall fall through the hollow newel.
   Joseph Moxon, Mech. Exer.

4. To Wellverb

   To pour any thing forth.

   To her people wealth they forth do well,
   And health to every foreign nation.
   Fairy Queen.

5. To Wellverb

   To spring; to issue as from a spring.

   Etymology: weallan , Saxon.

   Thereby a crystal stream did gently play,
   Which from a sacred fountain welled forth alway.
   Fa. Qu.

   The bubbling wave did ever freshly well.
   Fairy Queen.

   A dreary corse,
   All wallow’d in his own yet lukewarm blood,
   That from his wound yet welled fresh, alas!
   Edmund Spenser.

   Himself assists to lift him from the ground,
   With clotted locks, and blood that well’d from out the wound.
   John Dryden, Æn.

   From his two springs,
   Pure welling out, he through the lucid lake
   Of fair Dambea rolls his infant stream.
   James Thomson, Summer.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Well

   A well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, or drilling to access liquid resources, usually water. The oldest and most common kind of well is a water well, to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn up by a pump, or using containers, such as buckets, that are raised mechanically or by hand. Water can also be injected back into the aquifer through the well. Wells were first constructed at least eight thousand years ago and historically vary in construction from a simple scoop in the sediment of a dry watercourse to the qanats of Iran, and the stepwells and sakiehs of India. Placing a lining in the well shaft helps create stability, and linings of wood or wickerwork date back at least as far as the Iron Age.
   Wells have traditionally been sunk by hand digging, as is the case in rural areas of the developing world. These wells are inexpensive and low-tech as they use mostly manual labour, and the structure can be lined with brick or stone as the excavation proceeds. A more modern method called caissoning uses pre-cast reinforced concrete well rings that are lowered into the hole. Driven wells can be created in unconsolidated material with a well hole structure, which consists of a hardened drive point and a screen of perforated pipe, after which a pump is installed to collect the water. Deeper wells can be excavated by hand drilling methods or machine drilling, using a bit in a borehole. Drilled wells are usually cased with a factory-made pipe composed of steel or plastic. Drilled wells can access water at much greater depths than dug wells.
   Two broad classes of well are shallow or unconfined wells completed within the uppermost saturated aquifer at that location, and deep or confined wells, sunk through an impermeable stratum into an aquifer beneath. A collector well can be constructed adjacent to a freshwater lake or stream with water percolating through the intervening material. The site of a well can be selected by a hydrogeologist, or groundwater surveyor. Water may be pumped or hand drawn. Impurities from the surface can easily reach shallow sources and contamination of the supply by pathogens or chemical contaminants needs to be avoided. Well water typically contains more minerals in solution than surface water and may require treatment before being potable. Soil salination can occur as the water table falls and the surrounding soil begins to dry out. Another environmental problem is the potential for methane to seep into the water.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Wellverb

   an issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain

2. Wellverb

   a pit or hole sunk into the earth to such a depth as to reach a supply of water, generally of a cylindrical form, and often walled with stone or bricks to prevent the earth from caving in

3. Wellverb

   a shaft made in the earth to obtain oil or brine

4. Wellverb

   fig.: A source of supply; fountain; wellspring

5. Wellverb

   an inclosure in the middle of a vessel’s hold, around the pumps, from the bottom to the lower deck, to preserve the pumps from damage and facilitate their inspection

6. Wellverb

   a compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel, made tight at the sides, but having holes perforated in the bottom to let in water for the preservation of fish alive while they are transported to market

7. Wellverb

   a vertical passage in the stern into which an auxiliary screw propeller may be drawn up out of water

8. Wellverb

   a depressed space in the after part of the deck; — often called the cockpit

9. Wellverb

   a hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries

10. Wellverb

    an opening through the floors of a building, as for a staircase or an elevator; a wellhole

11. Wellverb

    the lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls

12. Wellverb

    to issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring

13. Wellverb

    to pour forth, as from a well

14. Wellverb

    in a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly

15. Wellverb

    suitably to one’s condition, to the occasion, or to a proposed end or use; suitably; abundantly; fully; adequately; thoroughly

16. Wellverb

    fully or about; — used with numbers

17. Wellverb

    in such manner as is desirable; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favorably; advantageously; conveniently

18. Wellverb

    considerably; not a little; far

19. Welladjective

    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 discovered

20. Welladjective

    being in health; sound in body; not ailing, diseased, or sick; healthy; as, a well man; the patient is perfectly well

21. Welladjective

    being in favor; favored; fortunate

22. Welladjective

    safe; as, a chip warranted well at a certain day and place

23. Etymology: [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. to inwrap, to roll. Cf. Voluble, Wallop to boil, Wallow, Weld of metal.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Well

   wel, n. a rise of water from the earth: a spring: a pit in the earth whence a supply of water is obtained: an enclosure in a ship’s hold round the pumps: the open space in the middle of a staircase: a cavity: an eddy.—v.i. to issue forth, as water from the earth: to spring.—ns. Well′-boat, -smack, a fishing-boat having a well; Well′-bor′ing, sinking wells by drilling through rock; Well′-buck′et, a vessel for drawing up water from a well; Well′-curb, the stone ring built round the mouth of a well; Well′-deck, an enclosed space on the deck of a ship; Well′-drain, a pit drawing the water from wet land; Well′-dress′ing, the festal decoration of wells and springs, as at Tissington in Derbyshire on Ascension-day, &c.; Well′-head, the source of a spring; Well′-hole, the pit or shaft of a well; Well′-house, a room built over a well; Well′ing, an outpouring; Well′-room, a room enclosing a mineral well: a cavity in a boat for collecting leakage and rain-water; Well′-sink′er, one who digs wells; Well′-sink′ing, the act of boring for water; Well′-spring, a fountain.—The wells, any place where mineral wells are situated. [A.S. wella—weallan, to boil; cf. Ice. vella, to boil.]

2. Well

   wel, adj. good in condition: fortunate: comfortable: in health.—n. (Spens.) good health, fortune.—adv. in a proper manner: rightly: thoroughly: favourably: conveniently: to a considerable extent: conscientiously: so be it (as a sign of assent).—adjs. Well′-acquaint′ed, having intimate personal knowledge; Well′-advised′, prudent.—adv. Well′-anear′ (Shak.), very soon.—adj. Well′-appoint′ed, in good trim.—n. Well′-appoint′edness′.—adjs. Well′-bal′anced, properly adjusted; Well′-behāved′, becoming in manner.—n. Well′-bē′ing, state of being well, welfare.—adjs. Well′-beloved′, very dear; Well′-beseem′ing, properly becoming; Well′-beseen′ (Spens.), showy in appearance; Well′-born, born of a good or respectable family: not of mean birth; Well′-breathed, strong of lung; Well′-bred, educated to polished manners: of good stock; Well′-condi′tioned, in a desirable condition; Well′-conduct′ed, properly led: acting properly; Well′-disposed′, favourable.—ns. Well′-do′er, a benefactor; Well′-do′ing, a doing of what is right or good.—adjs. Well′-earned, thoroughly deserved; Well′-ed′ucated, having a good education; Well′-famed, famous; Well-fā′voured, good-looking; Well′-fed, fat; Well′-found, commendable; Well′-found′ed, highly probable; Well′-graced, popular; Well′-ground′ed, very likely; Well′-informed′, full of varied information; Well′-inten′tioned, of upright intentions or purpose; Well′-judged, correctly calculated; Well′-knit, strongly framed; Well′-known, fully known: celebrated: notorious; Well′-lik′ing (Shak.), in good condition: clever, smart; Well′-look′ing, good-looking; Well′-mann′ered, polite: obedient; Well′-marked, obvious, decided; Well′-mean′ing, well-intentioned; Well′-meant, rightly intended; Well′-mind′ed, favourably inclined.—adv. Well′-nigh, nearly: almost.—adjs. Well′-or′dered, correctly governed; Well′-pleas′ing, acceptable; Well′-plight′ed (Spens.), well folded; Well′-propor′tioned, having correct proportions; Well′-read, of extensive reading; Well′-reg′ulated, well-ordered; Well′-respect′ed, highly esteemed; Well-round′ed, symmetrical; Well′-seen (Shak.), experienced, skilful; Well′-set, properly arranged: fitly put together; Well′-spō′ken, spoken properly: graceful in speech; Well′-tem′pered (mus.), tuned in equal temperament; Well′-thewed (Spens.), well-educated, well-mannered, of good disposition; Well′-tim′bered, furnished with much timber; Well′-timed, opportune: keeping accurate time; Well′-to-do, prosperous; Well′-turned, accurately rounded or fashioned; Well′-warr′anted, having good credit.—ns. Well′-will′er, -wish′er, one who wills or wishes well.—adjs. Well′-wished (Shak.), held in good-will; Well′-won, honestly gained; Well′-worn, worn threadbare: (rare) becomingly worn.—adv. Well′y (prov.), well-nigh.—Well done, a word of praise, bravely! nobly! Well enough, in a moderate but sufficient degree; Well met (see Meet); Well off, in good circumstances; Well said, well done! Well up (coll.), well versed in, well acquainted with (with in).—As well as (see As); Just as well, all the same: so much the better. [A.S. wel; cog. with Goth. vaila, Ger. wohl, from the root of will.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. well

   A strong compartment in the middle
   of the hold, open to the deck, but lined with lead on every side, and
   having the bottom perforated with small holes through the floor, so that
   the water may pass in freely, and thus preserve the fish alive which are
   put into it. Lobster-boats are thus fitted.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. well

   A depth which the miner sinks under ground, with branches or galleries running out from it, either to prepare a mine, or to discover the enemy’s mine.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. well

   A source of water.

   The well was an abundant water source.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 25, 2020  

2. ---

   well

   Healthy and joyful.

   Its a real delight to feel and know all our family members are well.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 15, 2020  

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. WELL

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Well is ranked #30916 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

   The Well surname appeared 752 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Well.

   72.6% or 546 total occurrences were White.
   20.7% or 156 total occurrences were Black.
   3.7% or 28 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   1.3% or 10 total occurrences were of two or more races.

Matched Categories

1. • Excavation
   • Shaft
   • Source
   • Vessel

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘well’ in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #130

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘well’ in Written Corpus Frequency: #32

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘well’ in Nouns Frequency: #2378

4. Adverbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘well’ in Adverbs Frequency: #11

5. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘well’ in Adjectives Frequency: #322

How to pronounce well?

How to say well in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of well in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of well in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of well in a Sentence

1. Devon Toews:

   It was pretty much business as usual, there’s nothing to it, guys, in that standpoint. We come to the rink, we prepare for the game tonight. If we have Jared, we have Jared. If we don’t, we’ll prepare for that, as well. We’re ready to go as a group and we’re excited for the challenge.

2. Dru Smith:

   Well, this time around, we took very careful measurements, we were able to determine about 3/8 of an inch had been melted off from the very top.

3. Federico Tucci:

   There is corruption at all levels, to work well you always need a favour from someone, and those who want to do things properly are demoralised.

4. Ivan Feinseth:

   I like Carl Icahn. Carl Icahn has done well but I just don’t know what Carl Icahn can do here.

5. Homer Wilkes:

   Protecting the Tongass will support watershed protection, climate benefits, and ecosystem health and protect areas important for jobs and community well-being – and it is directly responsive to input from Tribal Nations.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

• fonteinAfrikaans
• ምንጭAmharic
• حسنًا, بخير, جيداً, جيدًا, بِئْر, عَيْنArabic
• quyuAzerbaijani
• ҡоҙоҡ, ҡойоBashkir
• добра, студня, калодзежBelarusian
• добре, кладенец, изворBulgarian
• ভালBengali
• puñsBreton
• ben, bé, pouCatalan, Valencian
• zdravý, dobře, no, studna, studánka, vrt, prýštitCzech
• iawn, wel, bobol bachWelsh
• tja, brøndDanish
• na ja, na, gut, gesund, naja, ganz, Quelle, Brunnen, quellenGerman
• γερός, καλώς, για δες, εντελώς, ωραία, λοιπόν, αρκετά, καλά, υγιής, πολύ, που λες, καλός, πλήρως, νερομάνα, πηγάδι, φρέαρ, αστείρευτη πηγή, αναβλύζωGreek
• nu, bele, fonto, putoEsperanto
• bueno, bien, muy, totalmente, completamente, vaya, pues, anda, pozo, aljibeSpanish
• tõsiselt, hästi, kaevEstonian
• ondoBasque
• خوب, چاهPersian
• jopas, tuota, hyvin, tosi, niinku, kunnolla, terve, no, lähde, vesikuoppa, kaivo, kummuta, pursua, pursuttaa, pursutaFinnish
• brunnur, bruðurFaroese
• écoutez, ben, tiens!, bien, eh bien, vachement, puits, sourceFrench
• ffynnon, welleWestern Frisian
• bhuel, tobarIrish
• gu math, mathematics, uill, fuaranScottish Gaelic
• ben, manancial, pozoGalician
• בריאה, בריא, וואלה, היטב, בְאֵרHebrew
• ख़ूब, ख़ैर, ठीक, अच्छा, कूआँHindi
• byenHaitian Creole
• kútHungarian
• լավ, ջրհոր, աղբյուրArmenian
• ben, puteoInterlingua
• sumur, baikIndonesian
• bona, puteoIdo
• jæja, borhola, brunnurIcelandic
• beh, bene, puzzo, pozzo, sgorgareItalian
• 良く, おやおや, あのう, うーん, 元気, ええと, 井戸, にじみ出るJapanese
• წყარო, ჭაGeorgian
• អណ្ដូងKhmer
• ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿKannada
• 잘, 저어, 우물, 샘Korean
• بیرKurdish
• rectē, omino, multum, omnino, maximē, probē, bene, puteusLatin
• PëtzLuxembourgish, Letzeburgesch
• eee, mmm, kaleGanda
• pötLimburgish, Limburgan, Limburger
• ນ້ຳບໍ່, ນ້ຳສ້າງLao
• sveikas, gerai, sveika, na, šulinysLithuanian
• lieti, akaLatvian
• tsaraMalagasy
• значи, здрав, добро, опа, па, е па, добар, бунар, изворMacedonian
• ഉറവ, കിണർ, ഊറ്റ്, എന്തിന്‍റെയും വറ്റാത്ത ഉറവMalayalam
• худаг, шандMongolian
• dengan baik, sumur, perigi, luak, telagaMalay
• birMaltese
• ရေတွင်း, တွင်းBurmese
• ईनारNepali
• nou ja, gezond, nou, wel, put, bron, opwellen, vloeienDutch
• bra, brønnNorwegian
• jóNavajo, Navaho
• ben, plan, potzOccitan
• onda’ibaanOjibwe, Ojibwa
• ਖੂਹPanjabi, Punjabi
• no, coś takiego, cóż, dobrze, zdrowa, zdrowy, nieźle, hm, studniaPolish
• جوړ, مړه, ښهPashto, Pushto
• bem, sabe, bom, vertedouro, fonte, vertente, poço, verterPortuguese
• bain, puozRomansh
• foarte, bine, fântână, puțRomanian
• ну, так-так, хорошо, как следует, так вот, значит, так, что ж, здоровый, это, ключ, скважина, источник, родник, колодецRussian
• कूपSanskrit
• beni, pussu, putzuSardinian
• dobro, ìzvor, vrȅlo, zdénac, бу̀на̄р, bùnār, vrútak, studénacSerbo-Croatian
• dobre, no, zdravý, studňaSlovak
• no, torej, zdràv, dôbro, vrtina, vodnjakSlovene
• pusAlbanian
• genom, nämen, nåja, nå, öh, tja, väl, frisk, eh, bra, har man sett, källa, brunn, vällaSwedish
• kisimaSwahili
• நன்றாகTamil
• బాగు, నుయ్యి, బావిTelugu
• ให้ดี, สบาย, สบายดี, อย่างดี, ตะพัง, บ่อน้, ตระพังThai
• bak sen, bak, bak bak, iyi, iyice, şey, kuyuTurkish
• гарно, ну, добре, колодязьUkrainian
• اچھاUrdu
• mạnh, tốt, hay, khỏe, cũngVietnamese
• קװאַל, ברונעםYiddish

Select another language: