Webster's English Dictionary

well

Cross references:
  1. healthy               
 
1. well \'wel\ n [ME welle, fr. OE (northern & Midland dial.) welle; akin 
   to OHG ]wella wave, OE weallan to bubble, boil 1a: an issue of water from 
   the earth : a pool fed by a spring  1b: FOUNTAIN, WELLSPRING  2: a pit or 
   hole sunk into the earth to reach a supply of water  3a: an enclosure in 
   the middle of a ship's hold to protect from damage and  facilitate the 
   inspection of the pumps 3b: a compartment in the hold of a fishing boat in 
   which fish are kept aliv e 4: a shaft or hole sunk to obtain oil, brine, or 
   gas  5: an open space having a construction or shape suggesting a well for 
   water  7a: something resembling a well in being damp, cool, deep, or dark  
   7b: a deep vertical hole  7c: a deep reservoir from which one may draw 
2. well vb [ME wellen, fr. OE (northern & Midland dial.) wellan to cause to 
   we]ll; akin to MHG wellen to cause to well, OE weallan to bubble, boil, L 
   volvere to roll - more at VOLUBLE 1: to rise to the surface and usu. flow 
   forth  2: to rise to the surface like a flood of liquid {longing ~edX up in 
   his breast} : to pour forth from the depths 
3. well \'bet-*r\ \'best\ av or bet.ter;  or best [ME wel, fr. OE; akin to 
   OHG wela well, OE wyllan to wish -] more at WILL 1a: in a good or proper 
   manner : JUSTLY, RIGHTLY  1b: satisfactorily with respect to conduct or 
   action {did ~ in mat h} 2: in a kindly or friendly manner  3a: with skill 
   or aptitude : EXPERTLY {paints ~}  3b: SATISFACTORILY  3c: with good 
   appearance or effect : ELEGANTLY {carried himself  ~} 4: ATTENTIVELY  5: to 
   a high degree {~ deserved the honor well-equipped kitc hen} 6: FULLY, QUITE 
   {~ worth the price}  7a: FITTINGLY, RIGHTLY  7b: in a prudent manner : 
   SENSIBLY - used with do  8: in accordance with the occasion or 
   circumstances : NATURALLY (cannot ~ refuse} 9a: as one could wish : 
   FAVORABLY  9b: ADVANTAGEOUSLY, PROPERLY {married ~}  10a: EASILY, READILY  
   10b: in all likelihood : INDEED  11: in a prosperous or affluent manner {he 
   lives ~}  12: THOROUGHLY, COMPLETELY {after being ~ dried with a  sponge} 
   13: without doubt or question : CLEARLY  14: CONSIDERABLY, FAR {~ over a 
   million}  1: in addition : ALSO {other features as well}  2: to the same 
   extent or degree : as much {open as well to the p oor as to the rich} 3: 
   with equivalent or comparable effect  : and not only : and in addition 
   {skillful as well as strong}  - as well 
4. well ij 1: - used to express surprise or expostulation  2: - used to 
   indicate resumption of a thread of discourse or to introduc e a remark
5. well aj 1: being in good standing or favor  2: SATISFACTORY, PLEASING 
   {all's ~ that ends well}  3a: PROSPEROUS, WELL-OFF  3b: being in 
   satisfactory condition or circumstances  4: ADVISABLE, DESIRABLE {not ~ to 
   anger him}  5a: free or recovered from infirmity or disease : HEALTHY {a @ 
   man} 5b: CURED, HEALED {the wound is nearly ~}  6: pleasing or satisfactory 
   in appearance  7: being a cause for thankfulness : FORTUNATE {it is ~ tha t 
   this has happened}