weal
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weal¹
- /wiːl/ UK
- /wil/ US
Sounds like we'll, wheal, wheel (wine–whine merger) · Rhymes with -iːl
Where it comes from
From Middle English wele, from Old English wela (“wellness, welfare, prosperity, riches, well-being, wealth”), from Proto-West Germanic *welō, from Proto-Germanic *walô (“well-being, wellness, weal”). Cognate with German Wohl, Danish vel, Swedish väl.
noun
- Wealth, riches.
- Welfare, prosperity. Therefore for Gods loue, and as we loue the weale of our Soules and Bodies, let us ſo behaue our ſelues, as we may be at peace with God, and may finde grace in the Eyes of this People.
- Boon, benefit. And indeed I blamed myself and sore repented me of having taken compassion on him and continued in this condition, suffering fatigue not to be described, till I said to myself, "I wrought him a weal and he requited me with my ill; by Allah, never more will I do any man a service so long as I live!"
- Specifically, the general happiness of a community, country etc. (often with qualifying word). Yet never was there a time when it more concerned the public weal, that the character of the parliament should stand high.
weal²
- /wiːl/ UK
- /wil/ US
Sounds like we'll, wheal, wheel (wine–whine merger) · Rhymes with -iːl
Where it comes from
See wale.
noun weals
- A raised, longitudinal wound, usually purple, on the surface of flesh caused by a stroke of a rod or whip; a welt. [A]lthough a few [slaves] live comfortably at Paramaribo, the greateſt number are wretched, particularly thoſe governed by a lady, who have many weals to ſhow, but not the ſmallest indulgence to boaſt of.
verb weals · wealing · wealed
- To mark with stripes; to wale.
