Well

n. [A-S. well, wyll, weall, will, wella, wylla, wylle, from weallan, to boil; O. Fries. walle, walla, D. wel, a spring or fountain; Icel. vella, boiling heat, fire, glow, Dan. väld, spring, source, Ger. welle, a wave.]

1Sense 1. An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain.

Begin, then, sisters of the sacred well. Milton.

2Sense 2. Hence, a source. “Dan Chaucer, well of English undefiled.” Spenser.

3Sense 3. 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 walled with stone or bricks to prevent the earth from caving in.

4Sense 4. (Naut.) (a.) An inclosure in the middle of a ship’s hold, around the pumps, from the bottom to the lower deck, to preserve them from damage. (b.) An apartment 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 fresh water for the preservation of fish while they are transported to market. (c.) A vertical passage in the stern into which an auxiliary screw-propeller may be drawn up out of water.

5Sense 5. (Mil.) A hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries.

6Sense 6. (Arch.) A well-hole. See WELL-HOLE.

7Sense 7. The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.

Artesian well. See ARTESIAN.

[imp. & p. p. WELLED; p. pr. & vb. n. WELLING.] [A-S. weallan, wyllan, wellan; O. Sax. wallan, O. Fries. walla, Icel. vella. See WALLOP.] To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring.

From his two springs in Gojam’s sunny realm, Pure welling out, he through the lucid lake Of fair Dambea rolls his infant streams. Thomson.

a. [compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [See infra.]

1Sense 1. Good in condition or circumstances; desirable, either in a natural or moral sense; fortunate; convenient; advantageous; happy; as, it is well for us that we are so far removed from the rest of the world.

It was well with us in Egypt. Num. xi. 18.

2Sense 2. Being in health; sound in body; not ailing, diseased, or sick; as, a well man; the patient has recovered, and is perfectly well.

Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Gen. xliii. 27.

Your friends are well. Shak.

3Sense 3. Being in favor; favored; fortunate.

He followed the fortunes of that family, and was well with Henry the Fourth. Dryden.

4Sense 4. (Marine Insurance.) Safe; as, a ship warranted well at a certain day and place.

adv. [O. Eng. wele, A-S. wela, wel, Goth. waila, O. Sax., O. Fries., & D. wel, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. väl, L. Ger. wel, wol, O. D. wale, O. H. Ger. welo, wola, wela, M. H. Ger. wole, wol, wal, N. H. Ger. wol, wohl.] 1. In a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly. If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. Gen. iv. 7. 2. Suitably to one's condition, to the occasion, or to a proposed end or use; suitably; abundantly; fully; adequately; thoroughly. Lot . . . beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where. Gen. xiii. 10. We are well able to overcome it. Num. xiii. 30. She looketh well to the ways of her household. Prov. xxxi. 27. Servant of God, well done; well hast thou fought The better fight. Milton. 3. In such manner as is desirable; so as one could wish; favorably; advantageously; conveniently. Know In measure what the mind can well contain. Milton. All the world speaks well of you. Pope. 4. Considerably; not a little; far. Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age. Gen. xviii. 11. Well is sometimes used elliptically for it is well, and as an expression of satisfaction with what has been said or done, and sometimes it expresses concession, or is merely expletive; as, well, the work is done; well, let us go; well, well, be it so. Well is prefixed to many words, especially to adjectives and participles, forming a kind of loose compound with them, expressing what is right, fit, laudable, or not defective, and usually of very obvious signification; as, well-affected, well-designed, well-directed, well-formed, well-meant, well-minded, well-ordered, well-seasoned, well-tasted. Many words of this class whose meaning is obvious, or whose use is only occasional, are omitted here. As well as, and also; not less than; one as much as the other; as, a sickness long as well as severe; London is the largest city in England, as well as the capital.—Well enough, well or good in a moderate degree; so as to give satisfaction, or so as to require no alteration.—Well off, in good condition; especially, in good condition as to property or any advantages; thriving; prosperous.—Well to do, well off; prosperous;—used also adjectively.—Well to live, in easy circumstances; well off. Forby.