well

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Adverb 1.2.1.1 Related terms 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.2.2 Adjective 1.2.2.1 Derived terms 1.2.2.2 Translations 1.2.3 Interjection 1.2.3.1 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Derived terms 1.3.1.2 Translations 1.4 Etymology 3 1.4.1 Verb 1.4.1.1 Translations 2 Old English 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Noun 3 Welsh 3.1 Pronunciation 3.2 Adjective 3.3 Adverb

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /wɛl/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɛl

[edit] Etymology 1

Old English wel

[edit] Adverb

well (comparative better, superlative best)

1. Accurately, competently.

   He does his job well.

   • 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion^[1], page 266:

     In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.

2. Completely, fully.

   A well done steak.

3. To a significant degree.

   That author is well known.

4. (British, slang) Very (as a general-purpose intensifier).

   Well wicked!

[edit] Related terms

• all too well
• as well
• pretty well
• well and truly

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

well (comparative better, superlative best)

1. In good health.

   I had been sick, but now I'm well.

2. Prudent; good; well-advised.
   • 1897, National Association of Railway Surgeons, Railway surgeon, page 191:

     On leaving the operating table it is well to put the patient in a bed previously warmed and supplied with hot cans.

[edit] Derived terms

• get well soon

[edit] Translations

[edit] Interjection

well

1. Used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations.

   Do you think I care? Well, I don't.

2. An exclamation of surprise, often doubled or tripled

   Well, well, well, what do we have here?

3. Used in conversation to fill space (see uh).

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Old English well (“‘well’”)

[edit] Noun

well (plural wells)

1. A hole sunk into the ground as a source of water, oil, natural gas or other fluids.
2. A place where a liquid such as water surfaces naturally, a spring.
3. A small depression suitable for holding liquid, or other objects.
4. (nautical) A vertical, cylindrical trunk in a ship, reaching down to the lowest part of the hull, through which the bilge pumps operate.
5. (nautical) The cockpit of a sailboat.
6. A well drink.

   They're having a special tonight: $1 wells.

[edit] Derived terms

• ink well
• light well (architecture)
• oil well
• spare tire well, spare tyre well
• window well (architecture)
• wishing well

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 3

Old English weallan. Cognate with German wallen (“‘boil, seethe’”)), Danish gush.

[edit] Verb

to well (third-person singular simple present wells, present participle welling, simple past and past participle welled)

1. To seep out of the surface.

   Blood welled from the wound.

[edit] Translations

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[edit] Old English

[edit] Etymology

Common Proto-Germanic *wall-, whence also Old High German wella, Old Norse vella.

[edit] Noun

well m.

1. well

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[edit] Welsh

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /wɛɬ/

[edit] Adjective

well

1. Soft mutation of gwell.

[edit] Adverb

well

1. Soft mutation of gwell.