From Middle English wel, wal, wol, wele, from Old English wel (“well, abundantly, very, very easily, very much, fully, quite, nearly”), from Proto-Germanic *wela, *wala (“well”, literally “as wished, as desired”), from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- (“wish, desire”).
Cognates
Cognate with Yola vella, waal, wel, well, wull (“well”), Cimbrian boll, bóol (“well”), Dutch wel (“well”), German wohl, wol, woll (“well”), Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk vel (“well”), Faroese væl (“well”), Swedish väl, waͤl (“well”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila, “well”). Related to will.
Meanings
In good health.
I've been sick, but now I'm well.
I've always been a healthy, fit woman, but right now I really don't feel very well.
Mr. Peng said that the world-famous scientist, Sven Hedin, was kidnapped by troops under General Ma in south Sinkiang, but was released later, and is believed to be safe and well at Akosu. 1934 July 14, “Sinkiang Chief Predicts Early Suppression of Rebels”, in The China Weekly Review, volume 69, number 7, →OCLC, page 257:
Highly satisfactory
Everything well with you?
Good, content.
“How are you?” — “I'm well, thank you!”
Paulina. As she liu'd peerelesse,
So her dead likenesse I doe well beleeue
Excells what euer yet you look'd vpon,
Or hand of Man hath done: therefore I keepe it
Louely, apart. But here it is: prepare
To see the Life as liuely mock'd, as euer
Still Sleepe mock'd Death: behold, and say 'tis well. c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
(uncommon) Prudent; good; well-advised.
When executing bone scan protocols, it is well for one to be aware of how key deviations from optimal technique can degrade image quality. 2004 September 1, Sleiman Y. Naddaf, MD with B. David Collier, MD, Abdelhamid H. Elgazzar, MD, and Magdy M. Khalil, MSc, “Technical Errors in Planar Bone Scanning”, in Kathy S. Thomas, editor, Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, volume 32, number 3, Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, archived from the original on 23 Apr 2021, page 149:
In this respect it would be well for you to depart from the standard format and to indicate why you did what you did. 2014, Tom Mitchell, Assoc. Prof., “Psych 308/309 GUIDE FOR WRITING PROJECT REPORT”, in Academic website, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2014:
On leaving the operating table it is well to put the patient in a bed previously warmed and supplied with hot cans. 1897, National Association of Railway Surgeons, Railway surgeon, page 191:
(archaic, qualifier:now chiefly Bermuda) Good to eat; tasty, delicious.
Drunk, like, a gallon of orange mindral. Tasted wel. 2013 September 5, James Burton, “Burton's Banter: Our rich dialogue — as moreish as a cold burr...”, in The Bermuda Sun, archived from the original on 12 Dec 2022:
This wahoo tastes val. 1984, Peter A. Smith, Fred M. Barritt, Bermewjan Vurds, Island Press:
sco weel (in good health) · as বাৰু (in good health) · cr ᒥᔪ ᐋᔮᐏᐣ (in good health) · kok सौख्य (in good health) · sq mirë (in good health) · el καλός (prudent) · uk здоро́вий (in good health) · ru здоро́вый (in good health) · da rask (in good health) · km សប្បាយ (in good health) · ga ar fónamh (in good health) · kok उशार (in good health) · sw kisima (prudent) · tpi orait (in good health) · hu jól van (in good health) · pt bem (in good health) · ngh ǃaba (in good health) · zh 健康 (in good health) · el υγιής (in good health) · de gesund (in good health) · nl gezond (in good health) · my နေကောင်း (in good health) · fi terve (in good health) · pl zdrowa (in good health) · sou บาย (in good health) · ar بِخَيْر (in good health) · km ជា (in good health) · ro bine (in good health) · da vel (in good health) · hy լավ (in good health) · lb gesond (in good health) · mk добар (in good health) · hi ठीक (in good health) · th สบาย (in good health) · gd math (in good health) · vi mạnh (in good health) · vi khỏe (in good health) · he בריא (in good health) · ps ښه (in good health) · bg здрав (in good health) · es bien (in good health) · it bene (in good health) · sk zdravý (in good health) · zh 好勢 /好势 (in good health) · ilo nasayaat (in good health) · bn ভাল (in good health) · wlm yach (in good health) · ko 건강하다 (in good health) · pl zdrowy (in good health) · sv frisk (in good health) · io bona (in good health) · mi hauora (in good health) · el γερός (in good health) · ps جوړ (in good health) · hu egészséges (in good health) · ang ġesund (in good health) · tly چاک (in good health) · be здаро́вы (in good health) · eo sana (in good health) · lt sveikas (in good health) · tpi no sik (in good health) · th สบายดี (in good health) · he בטוב (in good health) · da frisk (in good health) · scn beni (in good health) · lt sveika (in good health) · cy iach (in good health) · lo ສະບາຍ (in good health) · mi toiora (in good health) · cs zdravý (in good health) · mk здрав (in good health) · as ভাল (in good health) · cy iawn (in good health) · tly چک (in good health) · sl zdràv (in good health) · tr iyi (in good health) · ngh ǂhuu (in good health) · fr bien (in good health) · hu tanácsos (prudent) · de gut (in good health) · zh 好 (in good health) · su pangéstu (in good health) · sa कल्य (in good health) · te బాగు (in good health) · fi hyvässä kunnossa (in good health) · ka ჯანმრთელი (in good health) · syl ꠜꠣꠟꠣ (in good health) · ja 元気 (in good health) · got 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌻𐍃 (in good health)
From Middle English wel, wal, wol, wele, from Old English wel (“well, abundantly, very, very easily, very much, fully, quite, nearly”), from Proto-Germanic *wela, *wala (“well”, literally “as wished, as desired”), from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- (“wish, desire”).
Cognates
Cognate with Yola vella, waal, wel, well, wull (“well”), Cimbrian boll, bóol (“well”), Dutch wel (“well”), German wohl, wol, woll (“well”), Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk vel (“well”), Faroese væl (“well”), Swedish väl, waͤl (“well”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila, “well”). Related to will.
Meanings
Accurately, competently, satisfactorily.
Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field. 2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
The jacket looks good and fits you well.
In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road. 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page 266:
My RV runs well on diesel.
A chap named Eleazir Kendrick and I had chummed in together the summer afore and built a fish-weir and shanty at Setuckit Point, down Orham way. For a spell we done pretty well. Then there came a reg'lar terror of a sou'wester same as you don't get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
This day is not going well. 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
He does his job well.
Completely, fully.
Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers,[…]. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either. 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter II, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
I was well looked after by close relations.
We’re well beat now.
His overall color was similar to that of a well-boiled lobster. 1957 July, Randall Garrett, “The Best Policy”, in Astounding Science Fiction:
Cook the potatoes well to ensure they aren't tough.
I prefer a well done steak.
(qualifier:degree) To a significant degree.
neither of us was paying attention to any damn imaginary scoring judges -- we were both well content, if a little fatigued. 2006, Spider Robinson, Callahan's legacy:
That author is well known.
A monument well worth seeing
Indeed, some readers may feel that I am beating a horse now already well dead. But in fact, that dead horse is still being driven daily through the pages of introductory textbooks. 1995 Feb, Luke Timothy Johnson, “The New Testament and the examined life: Thoughts on teaching”, in The Christian Century, volume 112, number 4, page 108:
Energy markets demonstrated in the 1970s and 1980s that they were well capable of adapting to a perceived scarcity. 2000, Colin Robinson, “Energy Economists and Economic Liberalism”, in Energy Journal, volume 21, number 2, page 1:
(Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, qualifier:degree, slang) Very (as a general-purpose intensifier).
That guy rocks! I think he's called Matthew Lillard or sommat but he is well cool in Scream. 1999, Drummond Pearson, “What Ash are doing right now...”, in alt.music.ash (Usenet):
Hey Dude / FIFA 2003 is well wicked, I've got FIFA 2002 on PS2, David Beckham on Xbox and Football Manager on Xbox too, out of all pf^([sic]) them FIFA 2003 is easliy^([sic]) the best. 2002, jibaili, “FIFA 2003 How is it?”, in microsoft.public.xbox (Usenet):
Hey, you should've seen it, it was well good. 2003, Steve Eddy, Empower, Book 2:
In a desirable manner; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favourably; advantageously.
October 10, 1714, Alexander Pope, letter to Joseph Addison
All the world speaks well of you.
Know / In measure what the mind may well contain. 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Whatever now the omen prove, It boded well to you. 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
I'm glad Joe got fired last week. I think we're well rid of him.
My Son Johnny, named ſo after his Uncle, was at the Grammar School, and a towardly Child. My daughter Betty (who is now well married, and has Children) was then at her Needle-Work. 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author, by a Lucky Accident, Finds Means to Leave Blefuscu; and, after Some Difficulties, Returns Safe to his Native Country.”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 147:
my ကောင်းကောင်း (accurately; competently) · ko 잘 (accurately; competently) · tr güzelce (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · pt bem (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ar كويس (accurately; competently) · ka მნიშვნელოვნად (to a significant degree) · da vel (to a significant degree) · eo bone (accurately; competently) · ko 꽤 (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · fr bien (accurately; competently) · he היטב (to a significant degree) · mg tsara (accurately; competently) · th ดี (accurately; competently) · vec bon (accurately; competently) · vec ben (accurately; competently) · nb bra (accurately; competently) · lb gutt (accurately; competently) · el αρκετά (to a significant degree) · zh 好 (to a significant degree) · fr drôlement ((slang) very — see also very, so) · hu rendben (accurately; competently) · tpi gut (accurately; competently) · ja 良く (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ja 良く (accurately; competently) · ht byen (to a significant degree) · pt completamente (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ar بِخَيْر (to a significant degree) · mt tajjeb (accurately; competently) · el πολύ ((slang) very — see also very, so) · ur اَچّھا (accurately; competently) · ko 잘 (to a significant degree) · hy լավ (accurately; competently) · la multum ((slang) very — see also very, so) · fi hyvin (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · hu jól (to a significant degree) · tl mabuti (accurately; competently) · ar جَيِّدًا (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · he מאוד ((slang) very — see also very, so) · fi hyvin (to a significant degree) · ka კარგად (accurately; competently) · he טוב (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ru как сле́дует (accurately; competently) · lb séier ((slang) very — see also very, so) · tr epeyice (to a significant degree) · lld ben (accurately; competently) · he היטב (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · sk dobre (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · uk га́рно (accurately; competently) · ist ben (accurately; competently) · gd gu math (to a significant degree) · pl dobrze (to a significant degree) · zh 好 (accurately; competently) · ru как сле́дует (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · gl ben (accurately; competently) · tyv эки (accurately; competently) · cs dobře (to a significant degree) · et hästi (accurately; competently) · mn сайн (accurately; competently) · lb ganz ((slang) very — see also very, so) · la omnino (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ka სავსებით (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · sv genom- (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · grc καλῶς (accurately; competently) · hu bőven (to a significant degree) · ia ben (accurately; competently) · lv labi (accurately; competently) · ro foarte ((slang) very — see also very, so) · bg съвсе́м (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · grc εὖ (accurately; competently) · rm bain (accurately; competently) · pt bem ((slang) very — see also very, so) · liv jõvīst (accurately; competently) · nl goed (accurately; competently) · fa بِخوبی (to a significant degree) · ro bine (accurately; competently) · fa خوب (accurately; competently) · la recte (to a significant degree) · ru хорошо́ (accurately; competently) · pt apuradamente (accurately; competently) · la rectē (accurately; competently) · sk dobre (to a significant degree) · ru хорошо́ (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · sv väl (accurately; competently) · es bien ((slang) very — see also very, so) · es bien (to a significant degree) · sl dôbro (accurately; competently) · tr hayli (to a significant degree) · ko 레알 ((slang) very — see also very, so) · tr güzel (accurately; competently) · chr ᎣᏍᏓ (accurately; competently) · la omino (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ro bine (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · sc bene (accurately; competently) · hu jócskán (to a significant degree) · sco weel (accurately; competently) · fi kunnolla (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · da godt (accurately; competently) · et tõsiselt ((slang) very — see also very, so) · hu sokkal (to a significant degree) · vi khá (accurately; competently) · cs dobře (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · as ভাল (accurately; competently) · ko 존나 잘 ((slang) very — see also very, so) · ko 어느 정도 (to a significant degree) · lb ganz (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ar بِخَيْر (accurately; competently) · hy լավ (to a significant degree) · eo bele (accurately; competently) · de gut (accurately; competently) · crs byen (accurately; competently) · ar كويس (accurately; competently) · sv väl (to a significant degree) · ko ㅈㄴ 잘 ((slang) very — see also very, so) · khb ᦡᦲ (accurately; competently) · cy iawn ((slang) very — see also very, so) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (accurately; competently) · kk жақсы (accurately; competently) · de ganz (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · el καλά (accurately; competently) · uk добре (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ka მშვენივრად (accurately; competently) · rup ghini (accurately; competently) · rom miśto (accurately; competently) · ruq bini (accurately; competently) · es bien (accurately; competently) · la probē (accurately; competently) · gd gu math (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · fa بَخُوبِی (to a significant degree) · oc plan (accurately; competently) · gd gu math (accurately; competently) · sco weel (to a significant degree) · lij bén (accurately; competently) · tr epeyi (to a significant degree) · hi ख़ूब (accurately; competently) · is vel (accurately; competently) · uk до́бре (accurately; competently) · mk добро (accurately; competently) · sh до̀бро (accurately; competently) · ko 겁나 잘 ((slang) very — see also very, so) · hu teljesen (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · da gennem- (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · la bene (to a significant degree) · tr epeyce (to a significant degree) · lo ດີ (accurately; competently) · ar بِخَيْر (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · sco weel (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · fur ben (accurately; competently) · vi tốt (accurately; competently) · rue до́брї (accurately; competently) · fo væl (accurately; competently) · be до́бра (accurately; competently) · za ndei (accurately; competently) · ps ښه (accurately; competently) · ar حَسَنًا (accurately; competently) · bg значи́телно (to a significant degree) · ca bé (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · lv lieti (to a significant degree) · sh dòbro (accurately; competently) · tr iyi (accurately; competently) · fr vachement ((slang) very — see also very, so) · cs dobře (accurately; competently) · scn beni (accurately; competently) · bg напъ́лно (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ar حَسَنًا (to a significant degree) · ko 되게 (accurately; competently) · esu aspialuni (accurately; competently) · as বাৰু (accurately; competently) · fi tosi ((slang) very — see also very, so) · ro bine (to a significant degree) · pt bem (accurately; competently) · ang wel (accurately; competently) · io bone (accurately; competently) · ca ben (accurately; competently) · zh 好勢 /好势 (accurately; competently) · ar حَسَنًا (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · lmo ben (accurately; competently) · mk до́бро (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · it bene (accurately; competently) · hi अच्छा (accurately; competently) · tr epey (to a significant degree) · ms dengan baik (accurately; competently) · pl dobrze (accurately; competently) · ca ben (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · gun porã (accurately; competently) · la probe (to a significant degree) · tr oldukça (to a significant degree) · pt bem (to a significant degree) · rup ghine (accurately; competently) · km ល្អ (accurately; competently) · da vel (accurately; competently) · vi hay (accurately; competently) · bg мно́го ((slang) very — see also very, so) · es bien (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · hy լավ (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · bn ভাল (accurately; competently) · bg добре́ (accurately; competently) · he הֵיטֵב (accurately; competently) · fi hyvin (accurately; competently) · ru хорошо́ (to a significant degree) · hu jól (accurately; competently) · ka საკმაოდ (to a significant degree) · el καλώς (accurately; competently) · sq mirë (accurately; competently) · tl magaling (accurately; competently) · sc beni (accurately; competently) · ar منيح (accurately; competently) · el εντελώς (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · el πλήρως (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ar جَيِّدًا (accurately; competently) · bg доста́тъчно (to a significant degree) · ca bé (accurately; competently) · tr iyice (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · sv bra (accurately; competently) · mk добро (to a significant degree) · ast bien (accurately; competently) · lt gerai (accurately; competently) · chr ᎣᏍᏓ (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ja 良く (to a significant degree) · tr adamakıllı (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · ht byen (accurately; competently) · zh 好 (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · hu alaposan (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · oc ben (accurately; competently) · sv väl- (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · sk dobre (accurately; competently) · fr bien (to a significant degree) · hu jóval (to a significant degree) · la bene (accurately; competently) · ko ㄹㅇ ((slang) very — see also very, so) · ruo bire (accurately; competently) · da vel- (completely; fully — see also totally, completely) · mfe byen (accurately; competently) · la maximē ((slang) very — see also very, so) · pl nieźle ((slang) very — see also very, so)
From Middle English wel, wal, wol, wele, from Old English wel (“well, abundantly, very, very easily, very much, fully, quite, nearly”), from Proto-Germanic *wela, *wala (“well”, literally “as wished, as desired”), from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- (“wish, desire”).
Cognates
Cognate with Yola vella, waal, wel, well, wull (“well”), Cimbrian boll, bóol (“well”), Dutch wel (“well”), German wohl, wol, woll (“well”), Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk vel (“well”), Faroese væl (“well”), Swedish väl, waͤl (“well”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila, “well”). Related to will.
Meanings
Used as a discourse marker.
“So, what have you been doing?” “Well, we went for a picnic; and then it started raining, so we came home early.”
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF KINK HISTORY
Do we know how kinky practices began? Do we know who the first kinky people were? Well, no. 2005, Annabelle du Fouet, “The murky world from whence it all came” (chapter 2), in Weather Balloons Make Rotten Sex Toys, Ellora's Cave, →ISBN, page 32:
Well, I am sorry. — It’s okay, Anna. 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
Used as a discourse marker. ▸ Used as a hedge.
“The car is broken.” “Well, we could walk to the movies instead.”
“Well,” I says, “I cal’late a body could get used to Tophet if he stayed there long enough.” ¶ She flared up; the least mite of a slam at Doctor Wool was enough to set her going. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter V, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
“I didn't like the music.” “Well, I thought it was good.”
I forgot to pack the tent! Well, I guess we’re sleeping under the stars tonight.
If gold pleased the conqueror, well,
That gold should be the one thing
The conqueror henceforth should lack. 1936, Robert Frost, “The Vindictives”, in A Further Range:
Used as a discourse marker. ▸ Expressing reluctance to say something.
“Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
It was a bit... well, too loud.
An exclamation of sarcastic surprise (often doubled or tripled and in a lowering intonation).
Well, well, well, what do we have here?
An exclamation of indignance.
Well! There was no need to say that in front of my mother!
(Ireland) Used as a greeting, short for "Are you well?"
Well, lads? How's things?
Used as a question to demand an answer from someone.
I mean (filled pause) · like (reluctance) · you know (reluctance) · like (filled pause) · look (indignant) · see (indignant) · as if (indignant) · so (acknowledgment of previous statement)
Translations (206)
ast bien (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · sv tja (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · da har man set (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · zh 好 (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · de gut (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · sv nämen (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · eo nu (used in conversation to fill space) · ca bé (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ru зна́чит (used in conversation to fill space) · pt bem (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · fr tiens! (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · ga bhuel (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · nl nou ja (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · sq epo (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · sk no (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · it mbè (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · hu hát (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · sv öh (used in conversation to fill space) · ar حسنًا (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · el λοιπόν (used in conversation to fill space) · he טוב (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · hu nocsak (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · uk ну (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ko 저기 (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · fi no (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · fr ben (used in conversation to fill space) · ps مړه (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · sco weel (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · el ωραία (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · sl no (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · pt ora (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · bg добре (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · bo བྱས་ན (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · da nå (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · de na (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · fa خُب (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · is jæja (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · pt é... (used in conversation to fill space) · ca bé (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · es mira (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · ar طيّب (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · tl aba (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · mk е па (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · tr peki (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · sv eh (used in conversation to fill space) · cy bobol bach! (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · ru ну (used in conversation to fill space) · he אז (used in conversation to fill space) · es pues (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · da ehm (used in conversation to fill space) · bo ཨ་ལའི (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · ja あのう (used in conversation to fill space) · hu hát (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · bg ами (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · tr vallaha (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ka ბარე (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · sk no (used in conversation to fill space) · tr bak bak (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · mk е па (used in conversation to fill space) · pl hm (used in conversation to fill space) · es pues (used in conversation to fill space) · el λοιπόν (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · lg mmm (used in conversation to fill space) · hi ख़ैर (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ka ბარემ (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · pt sabe (used in conversation to fill space) · bo ཨ་ཙི (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · pl cóż (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · hil abá (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · sl no (used in conversation to fill space) · ru так (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · rue но (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · lg kale (used in conversation to fill space) · cy wel (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · sco weel (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · es bueno (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · pt muito que bem (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · bg я (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · ko 저어 (used in conversation to fill space) · eo nu (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · fi jopas (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · zh 那 (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · fi tuota (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · de naja (used in conversation to fill space) · tr işte (used in conversation to fill space) · da nåja (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · eo nu (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · da øhm (used in conversation to fill space) · fr bien (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · sv tja (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · pl no (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · it beh (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · de na ja (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · es vaya (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · ka აბა (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · bg нима (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · tr şey (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ru что ж (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · hu hát (used in conversation to fill space) · fi tuota (used in conversation to fill space) · pl cóż (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ru ну (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · es pues bien (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · da tja (used in conversation to fill space) · tyv че (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · el καλά (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · zh 那 (used in conversation to fill space) · tr yani (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · cs no (used in conversation to fill space) · sah чэ (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ko 음 (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · bg е добре (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ko 음 (used in conversation to fill space) · it beh (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · cy wel (used in conversation to fill space) · el που λες (used in conversation to fill space) · pl no (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · uk ну (used in conversation to fill space) · cs no (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · pt bom (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · es pues entonces (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · cic haatokma̠ (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ga bhuel (used in conversation to fill space) · nv jó (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · ru так вот (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · hu nahát (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · da eh (used in conversation to fill space) · he טוב (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · es bueno (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ja あのう (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · cy wel (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ja おやおや (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · as বাৰু (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · nl nou (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · es anda (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · tr bak (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · zh 嗯 (used in conversation to fill space) · ro păi (used in conversation to fill space) · sl torej (used in conversation to fill space) · fi niinku (used in conversation to fill space) · da tja (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · tr öyleyse (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · pt bem (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · fr eh bien (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · pl no (used in conversation to fill space) · sv har man sett (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · pt pois (used in conversation to fill space) · zh 哪個 /哪个 (used in conversation to fill space) · tr pekâlâ (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · he ובכן (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · mi ehi (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · es este (used in conversation to fill space) · bo ཨ་ནི (used in conversation to fill space) · lt na (used in conversation to fill space) · mi āta koia (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · eo nu (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · ja うーん (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · mk зна́чи (used in conversation to fill space) · et no (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ru э (used in conversation to fill space) · mk о́па (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · sv nå (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · zh 那麽 /那么 (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ja まあ (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · mk па (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · gd uill (used in conversation to fill space) · el για δες (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · mk па (used in conversation to fill space) · de na (used in conversation to fill space) · tl puwes (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · fi no (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · ja ええと (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · lg eee (used in conversation to fill space) · mi kāti (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · pl coś takiego (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · tr bak sen (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · da tja (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · fr bah (used in conversation to fill space) · sco weel (used in conversation to fill space) · ru э́то (used in conversation to fill space) · hu nos (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · tl puwes (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · gd uill (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · ja ええと (used in conversation to fill space) · tr şey (used in conversation to fill space) · mi ehi (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · he טוב (used in conversation to fill space) · pl cóż (used in conversation to fill space) · stq nu (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · da øh (used in conversation to fill space) · mi e kī (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · pt muito bem (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · hu nohát (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · sl no (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · mi tēnā tēnā (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · fi jopas jotakin (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · sv nåja (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · fr écoutez (used in conversation to fill space) · zh 啊哈 (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · sv nämen (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · ru так-так (exclamation of surprise — see also bruh) · he ואלה (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · mi tēnā (to acknowledge a statement or situation) · sv tja (used in conversation to fill space) · hil abá (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations) · tr işte (used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations)
From Middle English welle, from Old English wielle (“well”), from Proto-West Germanic *wallijā, from Proto-Germanic *wallijǭ (“well, swirl, wave”), from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn; wind; roll”).
Cognate with West Frisian wel (“well”), Dutch wel (“well”), German Low German Well (“well”), German Welle (“wave”), Danish væld (“well; spring”), Swedish väl (“well”), Icelandic vella (“boiling; bubbling; eruption”).
Meanings
A hole sunk into the ground as a source of water, oil, natural gas or other fluids.
The woman said unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John iv:11:
By the end of the tenth century, Edith's humility had inspired a cult of holy wells in Kent, Staffordshire, and Herefordshire. 1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 170:
A place where a liquid such as water surfaces naturally; a spring.
Begin, then, sisters of the sacred well. 1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC:
A small depression, e.g. suitable for holding liquid or other objects.
Make a well in the dough mixture and pour in the milk.
Four fixed windows are fitted on the corridor side of the body and nine louvred air intakes on the opposite side. Rubber water drainage pipes are taken from these, and from the pantograph roof well, down the inside of the body. 1960 February 14, “High-Voltage Electric Locomotive for British Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 125:
(figuratively) A source of supply.
A well of serious thought and pure, / Too deep for earthly light. 1827, [John Keble], “St. Philip and St. James”, in The Christian Year: Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the Year, volume II, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [B]y W. Baxter, for J. Parker; and C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 130:
News of the deaths of James Baldwin and Richard Bruce Nugent in 1987 seemed to signal the death of an era — an era which produced works of monumental significance for Black lesbians and gay men; works such as Giovanni's Room, Just Above My Head, and "Smoke, Lillies, and Jade." As a fledgling Black gay writer, this was the well from which I drew succor. 1989 February 5, Craig G. Harris, “Your Life's All In Your Dreams And Your Dreams Are All In Your Life”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 29, page 9:
Dan Chaucer, well of English undefyled 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 32:
A vertical, cylindrical trunk in a ship, reaching down to the lowest part of the hull, through which the bilge pumps operate.
The cockpit of a sailboat.
A compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel, made tight at the sides, but having holes perforated in the bottom to let in water to keep fish alive while they are transported to market.
A vertical passage in the stern into which an auxiliary screw propeller may be drawn up out of the water.
A hole or excavation in the earth, in mining, from which run branches or galleries.
An opening through the floors of a building, as for a staircase or an elevator; a wellhole.
The open space between the bench and the counsel tables in a courtroom.
The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.
A well drink.
They're having a special tonight: $1 wells.
The playfield of Tetris and similar video games, into which the blocks fall.
Tetris, the most widely played computer game of all time, is a problem-solving puzzle game. […] The player attempts to lock the falling shape smoothly together with the shapes in the well. 2005, James Paul Gee, Why Video Games are Good for Your Soul:
In a microtiter plate, each of the small equal circular or square sections which serve as test tubes.
The region of an interface that contains tabs.
You can reposition the order of documents in the window by clicking and dragging the tabs, or you can drag a tab out of the well and view a document in its own floating window. 2011, Ted LoCascio, Using Adobe InDesign CS5, Enhanced Edition, pages 2-12:
You should now have three documents open with their tabs showing in the tab well (this refers to the row of tabs for each open document in the editor), as shown in the following screenshot: […] 2016, Jeff Martin, Visual Studio 2015 Cookbook, page 15:
shaft (excavation in the earth, from which run branches or galleries)
Translations (328)
ar بير (hole sunk into the ground) · hi कुआँ (hole sunk into the ground) · la puteus (hole sunk into the ground) · sh bùnār (hole sunk into the ground) · fi kaivo (hole sunk into the ground) · uga 𐎁𐎛𐎗 (hole sunk into the ground) · sh зде́нац (hole sunk into the ground) · ar بير (hole sunk into the ground) · lb Quell (spring) · et läte (spring) · sc pussu (hole sunk into the ground) · es pozo (hole sunk into the ground) · mi puna (hole sunk into the ground) · wyi bun-ding (spring) · sv brunn (hole sunk into the ground) · sq ubël (hole sunk into the ground) · et pandur (nautical: compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel to keep fish alive) · vep purde (spring) · pt poço (biology: small section of a microtiter plate) · ko 샘 (hole sunk into the ground) · mhr вӱдвынем (hole sunk into the ground) · ceb mahusay (hole sunk into the ground) · vec sortiva (spring) · kpv юкмӧс (hole sunk into the ground) · mn шанд (hole sunk into the ground) · lez къуй (hole sunk into the ground) · de Quelle (hole sunk into the ground) · ar بِئْر (hole sunk into the ground) · nap puzzo (hole sunk into the ground) · ccc itepo'sa (hole sunk into the ground) · ka წყარო (spring) · ba ҡоҙоҡ (hole sunk into the ground) · cu кладѧѕь (hole sunk into the ground) · fr puits (hole sunk into the ground) · hy աղբյուր (spring) · de Kuhle (small depression for holding) · tyz bó (hole sunk into the ground) · et allikas (figurative: source of supply) · ml ഉറവ (hole sunk into the ground) · cs studánka (hole sunk into the ground) · tk guýy (hole sunk into the ground) · fi kuoppa (small depression for holding) · da brønd (hole sunk into the ground) · crh quyu (hole sunk into the ground) · ar بير (hole sunk into the ground) · ru ключ (spring) · ar جليب (hole sunk into the ground) · eo puto (hole sunk into the ground) · rsk студня (hole sunk into the ground) · pt vertente (spring) · ca pou (hole sunk into the ground) · ms perigi (hole sunk into the ground) · gl manancial (spring) · da kilde (spring) · ru родни́к (spring) · fr puits (biology: small section of a microtiter plate) · uk коло́дець (hole sunk into the ground) · ssy ceela (hole sunk into the ground) · rsk жридло (hole sunk into the ground) · nb brønn (hole sunk into the ground) · af put (hole sunk into the ground) · egy Xnm-t:N35B (hole sunk into the ground) · ro fântână (hole sunk into the ground) · grc φρέαρ (hole sunk into the ground) · lt šulinys (hole sunk into the ground) · pt poço (hole sunk into the ground) · bg стълбищна клетка (architecture: opening through the floors of a building) · sq burishtë (hole sunk into the ground) · vec pos (small depression for holding) · sh студе́нац (hole sunk into the ground) · tr kuyu (hole sunk into the ground) · lmo pozz (hole sunk into the ground) · cs vrt (hole sunk into the ground) · fy boarne (spring) · wmw nrimbu (hole sunk into the ground) · tr pınar (spring) · kmr bêrim (hole sunk into the ground) · el αστείρευτη πηγή (spring) · sh zdénac (hole sunk into the ground) · el πηγάδι (hole sunk into the ground) · orv колодезь (hole sunk into the ground) · az quyu (hole sunk into the ground) · sh ѝзвор (spring) · ru сква́жина (hole sunk into the ground) · es venero (spring) · bo ཁྲོན་པ (hole sunk into the ground) · ka წყალსატევი (hole sunk into the ground) · ban sémér (hole sunk into the ground) · fo bruður (hole sunk into the ground) · lo ນ້ຳສ້າງ (hole sunk into the ground) · es aljibe (hole sunk into the ground) · de Delle (small depression for holding) · fy welle (hole sunk into the ground) · kk құдық (hole sunk into the ground) · uk крини́ця (spring) · tab къуйи (hole sunk into the ground) · ru коло́дец (hole sunk into the ground) · fr source (spring) · rm puoz (hole sunk into the ground) · sk žriedlo (spring) · it pozzo (hole sunk into the ground) · vec poso (hole sunk into the ground) · gl pozo (hole sunk into the ground) · ru студене́ц (spring) · mi matatiki (spring) · oj onda'ibaan (hole sunk into the ground) · th ตะพัง (hole sunk into the ground) · pt vertedouro (spring) · sh ìzvor (spring) · ko 우물 (hole sunk into the ground) · sh studénac (hole sunk into the ground) · id sumur (hole sunk into the ground) · yi קרעניצע (spring) · cv пусӑ (hole sunk into the ground) · tr memba (spring) · tl balon (hole sunk into the ground) · et allikas (spring) · sco wall (spring) · be жарало́ (spring) · kaw sumur (hole sunk into the ground) · fur poč (hole sunk into the ground) · yi קוואַל (spring) · tpi hul bilong wara (hole sunk into the ground) · ka წყარო (hole sunk into the ground) · ilo bubon (hole sunk into the ground) · fi sumppu (nautical: compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel to keep fish alive) · as কুঁৱা (hole sunk into the ground) · rup puts (hole sunk into the ground) · sh вре̏ло (spring) · wa pousse (hole sunk into the ground) · ms sumur (hole sunk into the ground) · bg кла́денче (small depression for holding) · ka ჭა (hole sunk into the ground) · ms telaga (hole sunk into the ground) · bg и́звор (spring) · cv ҫӑл (hole sunk into the ground) · fo brunnur (hole sunk into the ground) · hu mélyedés (small depression for holding) · es manantial (spring) · nl bron (hole sunk into the ground) · sl vodnjak (hole sunk into the ground) · de Brunnen (hole sunk into the ground) · orv колодѧзь (hole sunk into the ground) · fi lähde (spring) · tft sumu (hole sunk into the ground) · ru исто́чник (spring) · bg кла́денец (hole sunk into the ground) · nl put (hole sunk into the ground) · sq pus (hole sunk into the ground) · cs studna (hole sunk into the ground) · cs pramen (spring) · mt bir (hole sunk into the ground) · sh vrútak (spring) · nn brunn (hole sunk into the ground) · io puteo (hole sunk into the ground) · he גומה \ גֻּמָּה (small depression for holding) · pa ਖੂਹ (hole sunk into the ground) · te బావి (hole sunk into the ground) · av гъуй (hole sunk into the ground) · rup fãntãnã (hole sunk into the ground) · hu kútfő (figurative: source of supply) · vec pos (hole sunk into the ground) · be кало́дзезь (hole sunk into the ground) · ml കിണർ (hole sunk into the ground) · ca deu (spring) · ota قیو (hole sunk into the ground) · fa چاه (spring) · mi puna (spring) · sh бу̀на̄р (hole sunk into the ground) · sk prameň (spring) · ky кудук (hole sunk into the ground) · oc potz (hole sunk into the ground) · mr विहीर (hole sunk into the ground) · de Versorgungsquelle (figurative: source of supply) · mn худаг (hole sunk into the ground) · sh вру́так (spring) · th บ่อน้ำ (spring) · th ตระพัง (hole sunk into the ground) · tr kaynak (spring) · bal چات (hole sunk into the ground) · os цъай (hole sunk into the ground) · uz quduq (hole sunk into the ground) · mrj вӹдсӹнзӓ (hole sunk into the ground) · it pozzetto (biology: small section of a microtiter plate) · lo ນ້ຳບໍ່ (hole sunk into the ground) · de Bohrloch (hole sunk into the ground) · arc בארא (hole sunk into the ground) · lmo puss (hole sunk into the ground) · hu kút (hole sunk into the ground) · ta கேணி (hole sunk into the ground) · ja プレーフィールド (video games: playfield of Tetris and similar games) · ta கிணறு (hole sunk into the ground) · udm гудӟем (hole sunk into the ground) · ba ҡойо (hole sunk into the ground) · sq buronjë (hole sunk into the ground) · inh гӏув (hole sunk into the ground) · yi קרעניצע (hole sunk into the ground) · nds Born (hole sunk into the ground) · ne ईनार (hole sunk into the ground) · is borhola (hole sunk into the ground) · km អណ្ដូង (hole sunk into the ground) · ar بِئْر (spring) · be кало́дзеж (hole sunk into the ground) · es pocillo (biology: small section of a microtiter plate) · he מָקוֹר (figurative: source of supply) · fur poç (hole sunk into the ground) · mk извор (spring) · my ရေတွင်း (hole sunk into the ground) · chr ᎠᎹᏢᏗᎢ (hole sunk into the ground) · he מעיין \ מַעְיָן (spring) · nrf pyit (hole sunk into the ground) · ug قۇدۇق (hole sunk into the ground) · te నుయ్యి (hole sunk into the ground) · rgn poz (hole sunk into the ground) · hu liftakna (architecture: opening through the floors of a building) · ro puț (hole sunk into the ground) · be сту́дня (hole sunk into the ground) · arc ܒܐܪܐ (hole sunk into the ground) · li pöt (hole sunk into the ground) · mnc ᡥᡡᠴᡳᠨ (hole sunk into the ground) · vi giếng (hole sunk into the ground) · ru студене́ц (hole sunk into the ground) · udm колодча (hole sunk into the ground) · gd fuaran (hole sunk into the ground) · he בְאֵר (hole sunk into the ground) · bg и́зточник (figurative: source of supply) · el νερομάνα (spring) · fi pesä (metalworking: lower part of a furnace) · uk крини́ця (hole sunk into the ground) · fr fontaine (small depression for holding) · kqr talaga (hole sunk into the ground) · et sump (nautical: compartment in the middle of the hold of a fishing vessel to keep fish alive) · eo fonto (spring) · hi कूआँ (hole sunk into the ground) · pt fonte (spring) · lb Pëtz (hole sunk into the ground) · ast pozu (hole sunk into the ground) · nl wel (spring) · yi קוואַל (hole sunk into the ground) · rif anu (hole sunk into the ground) · is brunnur (hole sunk into the ground) · sne prigi (hole sunk into the ground) · mrj коловец (hole sunk into the ground) · kok बांय (hole sunk into the ground) · de Brunnenschacht (hole sunk into the ground) · vep kaiv (hole sunk into the ground) · pl studnia (hole sunk into the ground) · fi vesikuoppa (waterhole) (small depression for holding) · mn булаг (spring) · de Brunnen (spring) · zh җин (hole sunk into the ground) · hu forrás (spring) · shi ⴰⵍⵓ (hole sunk into the ground) · zh 井 (hole sunk into the ground) · yi ברונעם (hole sunk into the ground) · cu стоуденьць (hole sunk into the ground) · my တွင်း (hole sunk into the ground) · ms luak (hole sunk into the ground) · ur چاہ (hole sunk into the ground) · mel teba (hole sunk into the ground) · jv sumur (hole sunk into the ground) · ml ഊറ്റ് (hole sunk into the ground) · pt vaso (biology: small section of a microtiter plate) · mhr таве (hole sunk into the ground) · tg чоҳ (hole sunk into the ground) · ar عَيْن (spring) · br puñs (hole sunk into the ground) · ckb بیر (hole sunk into the ground) · hu akna (architecture: opening through the floors of a building) · ca pou (figurative: source of supply) · ja 井戸 (hole sunk into the ground) · th บ่อน้ำ (hole sunk into the ground) · hu tárház (figurative: source of supply) · scn puzzu (hole sunk into the ground) · tt кое (hole sunk into the ground) · mhn prunn (spring) · fa چاه (hole sunk into the ground) · uk джерело́ (spring) · ga tobar (hole sunk into the ground) · ms telaga minyak (hole sunk into the ground) · cy ffynnon (hole sunk into the ground) · ba ҡотоҡ (hole sunk into the ground) · lo ນໍ້າສ້າງ (hole sunk into the ground) · lv aka (hole sunk into the ground) · sh vrȅlo (spring) · af fontein (hole sunk into the ground) · fi kuilu (architecture: opening through the floors of a building) · sw kisima (hole sunk into the ground) · sc putzu (hole sunk into the ground) · fi potero (military: hole or excavation in the earth) · aa qeela (hole sunk into the ground) · ur کُنْواں (hole sunk into the ground) · be крыні́ца (spring) · he מעיין \ מַעְיָן (figurative: source of supply) · kn ಬಾವಿ (hole sunk into the ground) · zza bîr (hole sunk into the ground) · et kaev (hole sunk into the ground) · uz chuqur (hole sunk into the ground) · gd fuaran (spring) · be сту́дзень (hole sunk into the ground) · pt cela (biology: small section of a microtiter plate) · sk studňa (hole sunk into the ground) · sl vrtina (hole sunk into the ground) · de Quelle (figurative: source of supply) · vec boja (spring) · fy boarne (hole sunk into the ground) · hy ջրհոր (hole sunk into the ground) · sv källa (spring) · ar بير (hole sunk into the ground) · ota قلیب (hole sunk into the ground) · udm куйы (hole sunk into the ground) · am ምንጭ (hole sunk into the ground) · ru исто́чник (figurative: source of supply) · pon ido (hole sunk into the ground) · zh 場地 /场地 (video games: playfield of Tetris and similar games) · ce гӏу (hole sunk into the ground) · eu putzu (hole sunk into the ground) · ba оро (hole sunk into the ground) · ia puteo (hole sunk into the ground) · de Quelle (spring) · nl bron (spring) · sa कूप (hole sunk into the ground) · mk бунар (hole sunk into the ground) · uk коло́дязь (hole sunk into the ground) · ml എന്തിന്റെയും വറ്റാത്ത ഉറവ (hole sunk into the ground) · tk gowy (hole sunk into the ground) · sga topar (hole sunk into the ground) · fi lähde (figurative: source of supply)
From Middle English wellen, from a merger of Old English weallan (intransitive) and wiellan (transitive), both meaning “to boil.” Further from Proto-Germanic *wallaną and *wallijaną. Doublet of wall.
Cognate with German wallen (“boil, seethe”), Danish vælde (“gush”), Norwegian Nynorsk vella and outside Germanic, with Albanian valë (“hot, boiling”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To issue forth, as water from the earth; to flow; to spring.
[Yon spring] wells softly forth. 1824, William Cullen Bryant, A Forest Hymn:
[Blood] welled from out the wound. 1697, Virgil, “The Tenth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
(intransitive) To have something seep out of the surface.
hu fakad (to issue forth) · fi kummuta (to issue forth) · bg протичам (to have something seep out of the surface) · el αναβλύζω (to have something seep out of the surface) · bg извирам (to issue forth) · hu feltör (to issue forth) · nl vloeien (to issue forth) · he נבע (to issue forth) · tr taşmak (to have something seep out of the surface) · hu kibuggyan (to issue forth) · gl xurdir (to issue forth) · el αναβλύζω (to issue forth) · nb velle (to issue forth) · pt verter (to issue forth) · cs prýštit (to issue forth) · ja にじみ出る (to issue forth) · nl opwellen (to issue forth) · es brotar (to issue forth) · sv välla (to issue forth) · fi pursuttaa (to have something seep out of the surface) · bg руквам (to have something seep out of the surface) · da vælde (to issue forth) · hu ömlik (to have something seep out of the surface) · he זרם (to issue forth) · de quellen (to issue forth) · fi pursua (to issue forth) · it sgorgare (to issue forth) · es manar (to issue forth) · mi māpuna (to have something seep out of the surface) · hu bugyog (to have something seep out of the surface) · tr dolmak (to have something seep out of the surface) · bg бликам (to issue forth) · hu folyik (to have something seep out of the surface) · bg теквам (to have something seep out of the surface) · fi pursuta (to issue forth)