Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Wĕl'côme-ness, n. p. 1503The state or quality of being welcome; gratefulness; agreeableness; kind reception.Wĕl'côm-er, n. p. 1503One who welcomes; one who salutes or receives kindly a new comer.Wēld, n. p. 1503(Bot.) A plant of the genus Reseda (R. luteola), growing in England and various European countries; dyer's weed; woad; — used by dyers to give a yellow color. [Written also woad, would, wold, and…Wĕld, v. t. p. 1503To wield. [Obs.] Spenser.Wēld, v. t. p. 1503To press or beat into intimate and permanent union, as two pieces of iron when heated almost to fusion. Ure. ☞ Very few of the metals, besides iron, are capable of being welded; but tortoise-shell…Wĕld, n. p. 1503The state of being welded; the joint made by welding.Wĕld'a-ble, a. p. 1503Capable of being welded.Wĕld'er, n. p. 1503One who welds, or unites by welding.Wēld'er, n. p. 1503One who welds, or wields; a manager; an actual occupant. [Obs.] Swift.Wĕld'ing-hēat, n. p. 1503The heat necessary for welding iron bars.Wē'lew, v. t. p. 1503To welk or wither. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Wĕl'fâre, n. p. 1503Well-doing or well-being in any respect; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; prosperity; happiness: exemption from any evil or calamity. “To study for the people's welfare.”…Wĕlk, v. i. p. 1503To decline; to fade; to decay; to fall. [Obs.] Ruddy Phœbus 'gins to welk in west. Spenser. The church, that before by insensible degrees welked and impaired, now with large steps went down hill…Wĕlk, v. t. p. 1503To contract; to shorten. Now sad winter welked hath the day. Spenser. 2. To cause to wither by exposure to the sun; to wilt; to wither; also, to soak; to beat severely. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Wĕlk, v. t. p. 1503To mark with protuberances or ridges. [Obs. or rare.] “Horns welked and waved, like the enridged sea.” Shak.Wĕlk, n. p. 1503(Conch.) A whelk. See WHELK.Wĕl'kin, n. p. 1503The visible regions of the air; the vault of heaven; the sky. “The fair welkin foully overcast.” Spenser. “When storms the welkin rend.” Wordsworth. ☞ Welkin eye, in Shakespeare, is interpreted by…Wĕll, n. p. 1503An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain. Begin, then, sisters of the sacred well. Milton. 2. Hence, a source. “Dan Chaucer, well of English undefiled.” Spenser. 3. A pit or hole sunk…Well, v. i. p. 1504To 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.Wĕll, v. t. p. 1504To pour forth, as from a well.Well, a. p. 1504Good 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…Well, adv. p. 1504In 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…Wēl'a-dāy, interj. p. 1504Alas! welaway!Wĕll'-bē'ing, n. p. 1504Welfare; happiness; prosperity; as, virtue is essential to the well-being of men or of society.Wĕll'-bōat, n. p. 1504A fishing-boat with a well to keep fish in, in order to bring them alive to market.Wĕll'-bōr'er, n. p. 1504One who digs or bores for water; one who makes wells. Simmonds.Wēll'-bōrn, a. p. 1504Born of a noble or respectable family; not of mean birth.Wēll'-brēd, a. p. 1504Educated to polished manners; polite; cultivated; refined. I am as well-bred as the earl's granddaughter. Thackeray.Wēll'-dō'er, n. p. 1504One who does well; one who does good to another; a benefactor.Wĕll'-dō'ing, n. p. 1504A doing well; performance of duties.Wĕll'-drāin, n. p. 1504A drain or vent for water, somewhat like a well or pit, serving to discharge the water of wet land. 2. A drain conducting to a well or pit.Well'-drāin, v. t. p. 1504To drain, as land, by means of wells or pits, which receive the water, and from which it is discharged by machinery.Wēll'fāre, n. p. 1504Welfare. [Obs.] See WELFARE.Wĕll'-fā'vored, a. p. 1504Handsome; well formed; beautiful; pleasing to the eye. Rachel was beautiful and well-favored. Gen. xxix. 17.Wēll'-hēad, n. p. 1504A source, spring, or fountain.Wĕll'-hōle, n. p. 1504(Arch.) The open space in the middle of a staircase, beyond the ends of the stairs; — called also well, and sometimes limited to the open space in the middle of a winding staircase, or to the opening…Wēll'-in-fōrmed', a. p. 1504Correctly informed; provided with information; well furnished with authentic knowledge; intelligent.Wēl'ling-tons, n. pl. p. 1504A kind of long boots for men. Simmonds.Wĕll'-in-tĕn'/tioned, a. p. 1504Having upright intentions or honorable purposes. “Dutchmen who had sold themselves to France, as the well-intentioned party.” Macaulay.Wĕll'-knōwn, a. p. 1504Fully known; generally known or acknowledged.Wĕll'-măn'nered, a. p. 1504Polite; well-bred; complaisant. Dryden.Wĕll'-mēan'er, n. p. 1504One whose intention is good. Dryden.Wĕll'-mēan'ing, a. p. 1504Having a good intention.Wĕll'-mēant, a. p. 1504Rightly intended; kind; friendly.Wēll'-mind'ed, a. p. 1504Well disposed; having a good mind.Wēll'-mōr'al-ized, a. p. 1504Regulated or characterized by good morals. Milner.Well'-nāt'ūred, a. p. 1504Good-natured; kind. Dryden.Wēll'-nīgh, adv. p. 1504Almost; nearly.Wēll'-plight/ed, a. p. 1504Well folded. [Obs.] “Her well-plighted frock.” Spenser.Wēll'-rēad, a. p. 1504Of extensive reading; deeply versed; — followed by the preposition in.Wĕll'-rōom, n. p. 1504A room where a well or spring is situated; especially, one built over a mineral spring, &c. Simmonds. 2. (Naut.) A depression in the bottom of a boat, &c., into which water may run, and whence it is…Wēll'-seen, a. p. 1504Having seen many things or places; hence, accomplished; experienced. [Obs.] B. & Fl.Wēll'-sĕt, a. p. 1504Having good symmetry of parts.Wĕll'-sĭnk'er, n. p. 1504One who sinks or digs wells.Wĕll'-sĭnk'ing, n. p. 1504The art or process of sinking or digging a well or wells.Wēll'-spēd, a. p. 1504Having good success.Wēll'-spōk'en, a. p. 1504Speaking well; speaking with fitness or grace; or speaking kindly. 2. Spoken with propriety; as, well-spoken words.Wēll'-spring, n. p. 1504A fountain; a spring; a source of continual supply. Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly. Prov. xvi. 22.Wĕll'-stâir/cāse, n. p. 1504(Archl.) A winding stairway inclosed within walls; a stairway with a well-hole.Wēll'-sweep, n. p. 1504A long pole balanced upon a high post and used in drawing water by means of a bucket from a well; a sweep. See SWEEP.