well Hear it!

well¹ Definition

well (wel)

noun

  1. a flow of water from the earth; natural spring and pool
  2. a hole or shaft in the earth dug or drilled to tap an underground supply of water, gas, oil, etc.
  3. a source of abundant supply; fount a book that is a well of information
  4. any of various shafts or deep enclosed spaces resembling a well; esp.,
    1. an open shaft in a building for a staircase; stairwell
    2. a shaft in a building or between buildings, open to the sky for light and air
    3. an elevator shaft
    4. Naut. an enclosure in the hold of a ship for containing the pumps and protecting them from damage
    5. a compartment in a fishing boat where freshly caught fish are kept
  5. any of various vessels, containers, etc. for holding liquid, as an inkwell
  6. a depression, as on a platter or broiler for catching meat juices

Etymology: ME welle < OE wella, akin to weallan, to boil up, akin to Ger welle, wave, wallen, to boil < IE base *wel-, to turn, roll > walk, L volvere, to roll

intransitive verb

to flow or spring from or as from a well; gush (up, forth, down, out, etc.)

Etymology: ME wellen, to well up, bubble, boil, weld < OE wiellan, wyllan, to bubble, caus. of weallan: see wellthe

transitive verb

to pour forth; gush eyes that welled tears

well² Definition

well (wel)

adverb bet′·ter, best

  1. in a pleasing or desirable manner; satisfactorily work that is going well
  2. in a proper, friendly, or attentive manner to treat a person well
  3. skillfully; expertly to sing well
  4. in an appropriate manner; fittingly spoken well
    1. prosperously; in comfort and plenty to live well
    2. to one's advantage or well-being to marry well
  6. with good reason; in justice; properly one may well ask
  7. satisfactorily in regard to health or physical condition the patient is doing well
  8. to a considerable extent, degree, or distance well advanced
  9. thoroughly; fully stir well before cooking
  10. with certainty; definitely to know perfectly well what one must do
  11. intimately; familiarly; closely to know a person well
  12. in good spirit; with good grace he took the news well

Etymology: ME wel < OE, akin to Ger wohl: for IE base see will: basic sense “according to desire”

adjective bet′·ter, best

  1. suitable, proper, fit, right, etc. it is well that he came
  2. in good health she is quite well
  3. in a good or satisfactory condition; favorable; comfortable things are well with us

  1. used variously to express agreement, resignation, surprise, inquiry, expostulation, etc.
  2. used to preface or resume one's remarks

well² Idioms

as well

  1. besides; in addition
  2. with equal justification, propriety, or effect; equally

as well as

in addition to

wish someone well

to wish success or good fortune for someone

well Synonyms

well

modif.

  1. In good health

    fine, sound, fit, trim, healthy, robust, strong, hearty, high-spirited, vigorous, hardy, hale, blooming, fresh, flourishing, rosy-cheeked, whole, in fine fettle, hunky-dory*, corking*, great*, fit as a fiddle*, chipper*. *

    Antonyms sick*, ill*, infirm. *

  2. Satisfactorily

    up to the mark, suitably, adequately, commendable, excellently, thoroughly, admirably, splendidly, favorably, famously, rightly, properly, expertly, strongly, irreproachably, ably, capably, soundly, competently.

    Antonyms badly*, poorly*, unsatisfactorily. *

  3. Sufficiently

    abundantly, adequately, completely, fully, quite, entirely, considerably, wholly, plentifully, luxuriantly, extremely.

    Antonyms hardly*, insufficiently*, barely.

as well

in addition, additionally, along with; see also, including.

as well as

  1. alike, as much as, as high as, as good as;

  2. together with, along with, plus;

well Synonyms

well

n.

  1. A source of water

    spring, fountain, font, spout, geyser, wellspring, mouth, artesian well, reservoir, cenote.

  2. A shaft sunk into the earth

    pit, hole, depression, chasm, abyss, oil well, gas well, water well, gusher*.

  3. Any source

    beginning, derivation, fount, fountainhead; see origin 3.

well Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • salvation: O quench not this fire till you get water out of the wells of salvation!

Converse of object

  • make: To make the pancake batter, sieve the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the center.
  • have: The Fire Service had a clear well written Corporate Health and Safety Policy which sets out responsibilities for health and safety throughout the organization.
  • write: The Fire Service had a clear well written Corporate Health and Safety Policy which sets out responsibilities for health and safety throughout the organization.

Adjective modifier

  • artesian: Water was also obtained from an artesian well at Cosford.
  • spiritual: Workers institutes, education programs, cultural betterment, were seen as a way for workers to better their material and spiritual well being.
  • nearby: Omron's building uses rainwater and water from a nearby well for cooling.
  • physical: This year WMD is focusing on mental health and physical well being.
  • social: The Nuffield Foundation's mission is support research and practical developments that will ' advance social well being ' .
  • new: Water supply had been improved by the sinking of ten new wells and the provision of a great water tank in the market place.

Modifies a noun

  • deck: A generously proportioned lounge with upvc double-glazed doors opening out on to the well deck comprises the remaining living space.

Preposition: in

  • center: To make the pancake batter, sieve the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the center.
well Quotes

And all shall be well and All manner of thing shall be well When the tongues of flame are in-folded Into a crowned knot of fire And the fire and the rose are one.

—Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)

   It istruethat sinisthe cause of all thispain; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

—Julian of Norwich known as LadyJulian

The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well: Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George's glorious days!

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

Non est vivere, sed valere vita est. Life is not just to be alive, but to be well.

—Martial full name MarcusValerius Martialis

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

—Woolf, (Adeline) Virginia ne¤  e Stephen

There are two things which I am confident I can do very well: one is an introduction to a literary work, stating what it is to contain, and how it should be executed in the most perfect manner; the other is a conclusion, shewing from various causes why the execution has not been equal to what the author promised to himself and to the public.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

Coonardootheycalled it, thedark well, or thewell inthe shadows.

—Prichard, Katharine Susannah married name Throssell

   Much of the world's work, it has been said, is done by men who do not feel quite well. Marx is a case in point.

—Galbraith,John Kenneth

We don't bother much about dress and manners in England, because, as a nation, we don't dress well and we've no manners.

—Shaw, George Bernard

Say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? isit well with the child? And sheanswered,It is well.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Illness is the night-side of life, a more onerous citizenship.Everyone who isborn holds dual citizenship, inthekingdomofthewell and inthekingdomofthesick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooneror latereach of us is obliged, at least fora spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place.

—Sontag, Susan

He knew too well for any earthly use The line where man leaves off and nature starts, And never overstepped it save in dreams.

—Frost, Robert Lee

Here they have no time for the fine graces of poetry, unless it freely grows in deep compulsion, like water in the well, woven into the texture of the soil in a strong pattern.

—A'Ghobhainn

It looks well enough on the page, but never well enough.

—Bunting, Basil

A man lives well and happily until he begins to feel unwell. Then he feels worse because the climate allows him no chance of pulling himself togetheröand then he dies.

—Kipling, (Joseph) Rudyard

In myconscience I believethe baggage lovesme, for she never speaks well of me herself, nor suffers any body else to rail at me.

—Congreve,William

Patria est ubicumque est bene. One's country is wherever one does well.

—Anonymous

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

—Bible (Old Testament)

I am well as long as I live on horseback†sleep out-of- doors, or in a log cabin, and lead in all respects a completely unconventional life. But each time for a few days†I have become civilised, I have found myself rapidly going down again.

—Bird, Isabella married name Isabella Bishop

   Why so pale and wan, fond lover? Prithee, why so pale? Will, when looking well can't move her, Looking ill prevail?

—Suckling, SirJohn

   On s'inte¤  resse gue'  re aux affaires des autres que lorsqu'on est sans inquie¤  tude sur les siennes. We hardly interest ourselves in the affairs of others when things are going well for ourselves.

—Beaumarchais, Pierre Augustin Caron de

Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

—Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of

My wealth is health and perfect ease; My conscience clear my chief defence; I neither seek by bribes to please, Nor by deceit to breed offence. Thus do I live; thus will I die. Would all did so well as I!

—Dyer, Sir Edward