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[aum]l, Goth. wa['i]la;
originally meaning, according to one's will or wish. See
Will, v. t., and cf. Wealth.]
[1913 Webster]
1. In a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or
wickedly.
[1913 Webster]
If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
--Gen. iv. 7.
[1913 Webster]
2. Suitably to one's condition, to the occasion, or to a
proposed end or use; suitably; abundantly; fully;
adequately; thoroughly.
[1913 Webster]
Lot . . . beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it
was well watered everywhere. --Gen. xiii.
10.
[1913 Webster]
WE are wellable to overcome it. --Num. xiii.
30.
[1913 Webster]
She looketh well to the ways of her household.
--Prov. xxxi.
27.
[1913 Webster]
Servant of God, well done! well hast thou fought
The better fight. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
3. Fully or about; -- used with numbers. [Obs.] "Well a ten
or twelve." --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
Well nine and twenty in a company. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
4. In such manner as is desirable; so as one could wish;
satisfactorily; favorably; advantageously; conveniently.
"It boded well to you." --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Know
In measure what the mind may well contain. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
All the world speaks well of you. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
5. Considerably; not a little; far.
[1913 Webster]
Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age.
--Gen. xviii.
11.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Well is sometimes used elliptically for it is well, 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.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Well, like above, ill, and so, is used before many
participial adjectives in its usual adverbial senses,
and subject to the same custom with regard to the use
of the hyphen (see the Note under Ill, adv.); as, a
well-affected supporter; he was well affected toward
the project; a well-trained speaker; he was well
trained in speaking; well-educated, or well educated;
well-dressed, or well dressed; well-appearing;
well-behaved; well-controlled; well-designed;
well-directed; well-formed; well-meant; well-minded;
well-ordered; well-performed; well-pleased;
well-pleasing; well-seasoned; well-steered;
well-tasted; well-told, etc. Such compound epithets
usually have an obvious meaning, and since they may be
formed at will, only a few of this class are given in
the Vocabulary.
[1913 Webster]
As well. See under As.
As well as, and also; together with; 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.
"The class well to do in the world." --J. H. Newman.
Well to live, in easy circumstances; well off; well to do.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
|
as \as\ ([a^]z), adv. & conj. [OE. as, als, alse, also, al swa,
AS. eal sw[=a], lit. all so; hence, quite so, quite as: cf.
G. als as, than, also so, then. See Also.]
1. Denoting equality or likeness in kind, degree, or manner;
like; similar to; in the same manner with or in which; in
accordance with; in proportion to; to the extent or degree
in which or to which; equally; no less than; as, ye shall
be as gods, knowing good and evil; you will reap as you
sow; do as you are bidden.
[1913 Webster]
His spiritual attendants adjured him, as he loved
his soul, to emancipate his brethren. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
Note: As is often preceded by one of the antecedent or
correlative words such, same, so, or as, in expressing
an equality or comparison; as, give us such things as
you please, and so long as you please, or as long as
you please; he is not so brave as Cato; she is as
amiable as she is handsome; come as quickly as
possible. "Bees appear fortunately to prefer the same
colors as we do." --Lubbock. As, in a preceding part of
a sentence, has such or so to answer correlatively to
it; as with the people, so with the priest.
[1913 Webster]
2. In the idea, character, or condition of, -- limiting the
view to certain attributes or relations; as, virtue
considered as virtue; this actor will appear as Hamlet.
[1913 Webster]
The beggar is greater as a man, than is the man
merely as a king. --Dewey.
[1913 Webster]
3. While; during or at the same time that; when; as, he
trembled as he spoke.
[1913 Webster]
As I return I will fetch off these justices. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. Because; since; it being the case that.
[1913 Webster]
As the population of Scotland had been generally
trained to arms . . . they were not indifferently
prepared. --Sir W.
Scott.
[1913 Webster] [See Synonym under Because.]
[1913 Webster]
5. Expressing concession. (Often approaching though in
meaning).
[1913 Webster]
We wish, however, to avail ourselves of the
interest, transient as it may be, which this work
has excited. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
6. That, introducing or expressing a result or consequence,
after the correlatives so and such. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
I can place thee in such abject state, as help shall
never find thee. --Rowe.
[1913 Webster]
So as, so that. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
The relations are so uncertain as they require a
great deal of examination. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
7. As if; as though. [Obs. or Poetic]
[1913 Webster]
He lies, as he his bliss did know. --Waller.
[1913 Webster]
8. For instance; by way of example; thus; -- used to
introduce illustrative phrases, sentences, or citations.
[1913 Webster]
9. Than. [Obs. & R.]
[1913 Webster]
The king was not more forward to bestow favors on
them as they free to deal affronts to others their
superiors. --Fuller.
[1913 Webster]
10. Expressing a wish. [Obs.] "As have,"
Note: i. e., may he have. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
As . . as. See So . . as, under So.
As far as, to the extent or degree. "As far as can be
ascertained." --Macaulay.
As far forth as, as far as. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
As for, or As to, in regard to; with respect to.
As good as, not less than; not falling short of.
As good as one's word, faithful to a promise.
As if, or As though, of the same kind, or in the same
condition or manner, that it would be if.
As it were (as if it were), a qualifying phrase used to
apologize for or to relieve some expression which might be
regarded as inappropriate or incongruous; in a manner.
As now, just now. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
As swythe, as quickly as possible. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
As well, also; too; besides. --Addison.
As well as, equally with, no less than. "I have
understanding as well as you." --Job xii. 3.
As yet, until now; up to or at the present time; still;
now.
[1913 Webster]
|