well

well
Ⅰ.
well [1] ADVERB (better, best) 1) in a good or satisfactory way. 2) in a condition of prosperity or comfort. 3) in a favourable or approving manner. 4) in a thorough manner. 5) to a great extent or degree; very much. 6) Brit. informal very; extremely: he was well out of order. 7) very probably; in all likelihood. 8) without difficulty. 9) with good reason. 10) archaic luckily; opportunely: hail fellow, well met.
ADJECTIVE (better, best) 1) in good health; free or recovered from illness. 2) in a satisfactory state or position. 3) sensible; advisable.
EXCLAMATION used to express surprise, anger, resignation, etc., or when pausing in speech.
as well — Cf. ↑just as well
as well (or just as well) — Cf. ↑just as well
be well out of — Cf. ↑be well out of
be well up on — Cf. ↑be well up on
leave (or let) well alone — Cf. ↑let well alone
well and truly — Cf. ↑well and truly
USAGE When well is used with a past participle, such as ‘built’, and the resulting compound precedes the noun, it is advisable to use a hyphen, as in a tall, well-built man ; usually a hyphen is not used when the c ompound stands alone, as in her remarks were well intentioned .
ORIGIN Old English, probably related to WILL(Cf. ↑will).
Ⅱ.
well [2] NOUN 1) a shaft sunk into the ground to obtain water, oil, or gas. 2) a depression made to hold liquid. 3) a plentiful source or supply. 4) an enclosed space in the middle of a building, giving room for stairs or a lift or allowing light or ventilation.
VERB (often well up) 1) (of a liquid) rise up to the surface and spill or be about to spill. 2) (of an emotion) arise and become more intense.
ORIGIN Old English.

English terms dictionary. 2015.

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  • Well — Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la; originally… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well to do — Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well — Well, n. [OE. welle, AS. wella, wylla, from weallan to well up, surge, boil; akin to D. wel a spring or fountain. ????. See {Well}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain. [1913 Webster] Begin, then,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • well — well1 [wel] n. [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] 1. a flow of water from the earth; natural spring and pool 2. a hole… …   English World dictionary

  • Well — is an English adverb with irregular comparison. Well may also refer to:* Water well, an artificial excavation or structure for the purpose of withdrawing water * Oil well, a hole drilled through the Earth s surface for the purpose of extracting… …   Wikipedia

  • Well — Well, a. [1913 Webster] 1. 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well — bezeichnet eine Vertiefung in einer Mikrotiterplatte Well ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Günther van Well (1922–1993), deutscher Diplomat und Staatssekretär Roman Well (eigentlich Ruvelis Leiba Sobolevicius, später Robert Soblen;… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • well — well, well There is much uncertainty about whether forms such as well( )made and well( )received should contain a hyphen or be spelt as two words. The normal rule is that the combination is hyphened when it occurs in attributive position (i.e.… …   Modern English usage

  • well- — well, well There is much uncertainty about whether forms such as well( )made and well( )received should contain a hyphen or be spelt as two words. The normal rule is that the combination is hyphened when it occurs in attributive position (i.e.… …   Modern English usage

  • well — [wel] noun [countable] another name for an oil well * * * well UK US /wel/ noun [C] ► NATURAL RESOURCES a deep hole in the ground from which you can get water: »These two tributaries of the Yellowstone River supply water for farms and wells in… …   Financial and business terms

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