Middle English Dictionary Entry
wēle n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | wēle n.(1) Also wē̆l(le, weil(e, wāle, wiel, wil(le, whel, whiel, (late) weale, weal(le, (16th cent.) waile & (early) wela, wæl, (chiefly early SWM) weol(l)e, weolla, (gen.) weolan & (?error) wole; pl. weles & (N) wẹ̄lis & (early) welen, welan, welæ(n, wælan, (SWM) weolen, weolæn & (early gen.) welena, welene. |
| Etymology | OE wela, weola, weala, (Nhb.) wala; some forms and expressions reflect influence from or confusion with ME wel adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. welth(e n.
1.
(a) Sg. & coll. Worldly wealth, riches; possessions, goods; worldes (world, worldli) ~;
(b) pl. riches; possessions, goods; also fig.; ertheli (world) weles; weles-yerninge, greed, acquisitiveness;
(c) a source of prosperity, well-being, joy, etc.; a delight, a precious thing;
(d) a display or demonstration of wealth, power, etc., splendor, ceremony.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)13 : Ic eou wille ȝeuan wela and westme inoȝe.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)145 : Habundancia omnis boni: wone of alle uuele; wole [?read: wele] and alle gode.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)222 : Neure in helle hi com…Þach ich elches worldes wele [Eg(2): woruld wele] þer me mahte feche.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)66/32 : Qui custodit diuitias ser[uus] est diuitiis: Þu were þeow þines weolan.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1704 (2nd occurrence) : Wela, weolla, wella, hu þu bi-swikest monine mon!
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4045 : Al þat wæl & al þat gold…wes al isomned.
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)83/104 : Þey o mon ahte huntseuenti Acres…isowen alle myd reade golde…nere he for his weole.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)53 : If man is prute of world is welle, Ihc hold a fole þat he be…hit nis bot dwelle.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)490 : Festes he made gret and fele And hadden al warldes wele.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)13.236 : How hit euere be ywonne, bote hit be wel dispended, Worliche [vr. Worldly] wele is wicked þynge to hym þat hit kepeþ.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1820 : Ho raȝt hym a riche rynk of red golde…hit watz worth wele ful hoge.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)27/16 : With wapin…haue ȝe wonnen werldes wele.
- a1450(c1409) Man haue hit (Dgb 102)68 : Beter is litel ryȝtwys wonne…Þan…Wiþouten desert take pore mennys wele.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4814 : Ageynes hem comen here naueye…many galeye…chargyd wiþ alle wele…and wiþ oþir vytaylle.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)174/29 : False covetyse men…settes here hertes in þe vele of þis werld.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14020 : He wered on sarsyns and so wan grett wrschep and grett werdly wele.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)824 : He lette ordeyne shypus fele, And fylled hem fulle of wordes wele.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1374 : The Grekes were full gredy…Wele wantid no wegh, wale what hom liste.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)403 : I haue no good ne no gold…But…Y schuld don for þy will whan I wele hadde.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)6/5 : Þeh þe þine welen forlæten, ne forlæte þe na þin cræft.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)33/12 : Crisaurius…wæs swa mycel mid lehtren afyllod, swa mycelen swa he wæs mid eorðlicen welen gewelegod.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)124/2 : Ic eow bidde…þæt ȝe sceawiæn & asmeȝen hwær heoræ wælan beoð bicumene & heore gold.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)130/17 : Swa eac þa heaȝæ mihtæ her on worlde fællæð…þisre weorlde welæ wurdæþ to soreȝæ.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)130/24 : Þenne beoð þa welæn & þa glenȝæ aȝotene.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)132/4 : Hwær com middaneardes ȝestreon? Hwær com weorlde welen? Hwær com folce feȝernes?
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)107 : Ne eft he ne mei on his welan ne on his ehte modegidaen.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)111 : Ne ligge nefre on þine heorde…for þu ane ne brukest naut þinra welena…Ðu gederast mare and mare…and þine welan forrotiað biforan þine ehȝan.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)33 : Ne mei nan mon habben al his wil…þah…þu ahtest al weorld iwald and alre welene mest.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)55/479 : In euch þing of þe world beoð sutel & eðsene þe weolen of godes wisdom.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)67/10 : Þes mon is iwiten nu her…his weolæn beoþ her belæfed.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)87/24 : Trussen & purses…& packes beoð worltliche þinges, alle eorðliche weolen & worltliche rentes.
- 1372 ME Verse in Grimestone PB (Adv 18.7.21)p.19 : Caro, with lust…Mundus, with is wrenchis and is welis-ȝerningge.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4503 : Man þat weltres in his welis And, thoru his welth, na fautes felis, þof he ha freind þat lijs in waa, Ful oft he his forgeten sua.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)18/29 : Drihtin…Þu art weddede weole, & widewene warant.
- a1250 Orison Lord (Lamb 487)183 : Ihesu mi weole, mi wunne.
- a1350 Lenten ys come (Hrl 2253)35 : Wymmen waxeþ wounder proude…Ȝef me shal wonte wille of on þis wunne weole y wole forgon.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1272 : Now I am exiled fro my wele Syn that I may nat seen yow, Emelye.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)154 : Euer me þoȝt I schulde not wonde For wo, þer welez so wynne wore.
- a1500 Swete Ihesu now (Hnt EL 34.B.7)p.32 : Jhesu my weyle…all my ioy is the within.
d
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1325 : Þemperour…comanded to burye him as out to be swiche a burne nobul, wiþ alle worchipe and wele.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3658 : Wiþ alle worschip and wele William þei receyved, wiþ clipping and kesseng and alle couþe dedes.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)3234 : Seke a wif to my sone And…Bringe hir hoom wiþ mychel wele.
2.
(a) Prosperity, good fortune; well-being, welfare; happiness, joy; also person.; ?also, comfort, pleasure [quot. a1500]; also, a state of prosperity, well-being, or bliss; ~ and wo (blisse, win), wo and ~, etc.; worldes (worldli) ~; ben in ~ with, to enjoy the favor of (sb.);
(b) in ~ or wo, for ~ or (ne) wo, etc., no matter what, in any event; under any circumstances;
(c) the common good (of a group of people, a realm, etc.), communal welfare; ~ publike, publike ~; commune ~, q.v.; general ~;
(d) a benefit, an advantage; a good, a good thing; don (werken) ~; kennen ~ and wo, of the forbidden tree of Eden: to provide knowledge of good and evil; seien ~ of, say good things about (sb.);
(e) the reward of eternal life; heavenly joy, eternal bliss; pl. heavenly joys; heven (hevenes) ~.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)145 : Ach him is wel þet is ilaðed from lutel weole to muchele and him is ec muchele bet þet is ilaðed from muchele wowe to muchele wele.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)35/4 : For ðessere eadi hope hie forlateð…hus and ham, and alle worldes wele and blisse.
- a1250 Mon may longe (Mdst A.13)39 : In wo sal þi wele enden, in wop þi gle.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)531 : Nou haueþ Iacob wele & alle winne Mid his sones twolue.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)809 : Abram let loth in welðe and wale And ferde a-wei to mambre dale.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2673 : The heraudes…Been in hir wele [vr. wil] for ioye of daun Arcite.
- (a1392) Clanvowe 2 Ways (UC 97)60/138 : We haue no beyng, ne lyf, ne weele, ne wyt, but oonly of hym and by hym.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28778 : Quat bot a prai for þi welle—Anoþer prai for þin vn-sele.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)755 : Adam wandride in þat wele In mychel myrþe, ioye, & hele.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)4479 : Whenne þou in wele art wiþ þe kyng For godde loue on me ha menyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1877 : No man haue noon affyance In Fortune…To turne his chaunce ouþer to wel or wo.
- (1423) RParl.4.201b : Alle suytes…but if it so be that they touche the weell of the K. oure soverein Lord…that they be nought enact…by the Counsaill oo lesse than to the nombre of vi.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)31/20 : While wele & woo pleyen at þe balle, neþur of hem kan holde longe þe balle stille.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)742 : In werldly wele my wytte I welde.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)202/6011 : How myȝt it be To speke or write which sowneþ to gladnes Syn that ther nys as wille nor ioy in me.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1171/22 : Ye shall take the woo wyth the weall.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)51/30 : This good prynce as God-is vicary in erthe muste take heede with a gret harte to the weel of his chirche.
- c1475 St.Marg.(3) (Brm)62 : Talys she gowd will tell…of other seyntes…How they syffyryd wyll and woo.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)9300 : Peine shal it noon þole, But dwelle in a derke hole Þere þey shullen fele neuer a dele, Neiþer of woo, neiþer of wele.
- ?a1500 With wiel (Inscr)1 : With wiel my herte is wa, & closyd ys with care.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.413 : We grete you well…for certayn grete causes concernyng the well of vs.
- -?-(1474) Ordin.Househ.Pr.Edw.31* : For the weale, suretye and profytte of our sayde sonne, we will…give authoritie…unto the right reverend father in God, John, Bishoppe of Rochester.
b
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2777 : He…beden him sone manrede and oth Þat he ne sholden, for lef ne loth, Neuere more ageyn him go…for wel ne for wo.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.971 : Neuere for no wele ne no wo Ne shal the goost with inne myn herte stente To loue yow best with al my trewe entente.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.334 : Do crie þorgh þe toun þat non for wele no wo In stete walk vp & doun bot to þer innes go.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3504 : Whan a þing is shapen of Fortune, It mote be-falle…In wele or wo.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1235 : Eneas…swore…to hire to be trewe For wel [vr. well] or wo.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)95/15 : Godis lufe…failys not for wel ne wo.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)17/21 : I swer to þe…þat I schal neuyr forsakyn þe in wel ne in wo.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3513 : Non for wele ne for wo Ne scholde byforen oþer go.
- c1460 Dub.Abraham (Dub 432)265 : His comaundement, in wele and wo.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)412/20 : By that drynke was in their bodyes they loved aythir other so well that never hir love departed for well nother for woo.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)573 : He commanded…Bothe gode men and ylle, To serue her…Bothe yn wo and wele.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)188/13 : So was Petyr aftyr so stydfast þat for weyle ny wo he ne floterut.
c
- (1429) RParl.4.342b : Commissions…been sent…for the welle of this your seide Roialme.
- (1439) LRed Bk.Bristol2.152 : Plese it to your most sadde discrecions for to ouersee the seid ordenaunce…and ham to putte vnder dew execucion, Reseruyng to yow…plein poair…to repelle…and encrese the same ordenauns to youre pleser as wel for the profite, worschip and wele of the seid Commune as of the seide Crafte.
- (1447) RParl.5.137a : For where there is grete nombre of Lerners, and fewe Techers, and all the Lerners be compelled to goo to the same fewe Techers…the Maisters wexen riche in money, and the Lerners pouere in connyng…aynst all vertue and ordre of well puplik.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)8 : The Lordes…saide that they…wold conforme and consent…to mayntene all that he wold tak on hand to say, for the general weele of hem, and of all that land.
- (1463-4) Doc.in Welch Hist.Pewterers Lond.31 : The counsell of the said crafte that is said here or in any other place consarvynge the wealle of the felyschep you shall kepe and not vttur to no strange parson.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)65/3 : The good prynce sholde loue mor the weale of his people than his owyn propyr.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)215/19 : Than aught nat the publique well to be left whan the infortune of the same yeldith it more besy in trust of good socours.
- a1500 Chartier Dial.F.&F.(Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.43)4/31 : Who…ys of so yren an herte…but at he may sorow…the ruyne of the wele publyke?
d
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)82/27 : Æfre he bið Almihtiȝ, & æfre he wule wæl.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)12/24 : Lauerd…Hald me mi wit wel swa, & mi wil to þe, þet hit ne forwurðe naut for wa þet me do me, ne for wele nowþer.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)216 : He sulde him ðer loken fro A fruit ðe kenned wel and wo.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4300 (2nd occurrence) : Do wel: wel [vr. weyl] shalt þou haue.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.335 : Youre hire is quyt ayeyn, ye, God woot how! Nought wel for wel, but scorn for good servyse.
- (1431) EEWills90/12 : The remenaunt of my good I giffe…to…Roger Husewyffe…and, to Amy, my wyfe, whom I make Executours of…my last will, to do and dispose for profite and wel of my soule.
- a1450(1411) Many man (Dgb 102)65 : I suffred deþ and heryed helle…I do þe wele, why dost me woo?
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3276 : Wheyþyr he wrouth wel or wyckydnesse…euery man wold be bolde To trespas in trost of forȝevenesse.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)207/28 : Al þat gode comeþe of God, withoute whome no man may no weele do.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)223/31 : They that the well [CQ(2): the goodnesse; F le bien] of vertu and the publique saluacion, namelye in thenterprises of werre, desire nothinge ellys sauf the gettinge of goddes, they shall neuer doo…no soluable ne actuell deede.
- a1500 Chartier Dial.F.&F.(Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.43)27/20 : No goode man oughte to trust to suche synguler weles as may be hurte to the comon wele.
- a1500 PNoster R.Hermit (Trin-C O.1.29:Arntz)130/8 : Þan sall non wyckede spirite be-refene vs oure whiell.
- c1500 Melusine (Roy 18.B.2)135/22 : She…desired moche to see hym for the well that it was said of hym.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)101/103 : Wayle to man throughe him his wakinge, and myrcy hasse of his guylte.
e
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : Þe deuel…binimeð him heuene wele.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)89/785 : For nis ter bittres ah is al batewil…iþe wunnen ant te weolen þurh-wuniende.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)44/24 : Cvm…ant stih to þe wunne & to þe weole [Roy: weolen] of heouene.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)99/29 : Alle þe ilke fondunges þe we beoð nu ibeaten wið þuncheð wop nawt wunne ah ha wendeð efterward to weole & to eche blisse.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)300 : His seruauns he sende adoun…To preche and to bydde men to deserue heuenes wele.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)674 : Swiche schuld acomber also fele So þat oþer had brouȝt to wele.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)165 : Al þe ofspring…Scholde so steyȝen to heuene-blis, To þe heritage of wynne and wele.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)32/15 : Þere schul we haue al þat we wole of ioye & likyng in body & in soule & ȝit oure weele schal neuer mys [vr. of wheel sall wee neuer mysse].
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)33/14 : Þat is but a schadoo of þat weel or of þat woo þat euerlastande beþ, world wiþouten eende.
- c1475(c1420) Page SRouen (Eg 1995)p.35 : Thes were the syghtys of dyfferauns…As helle and hevyn ben partyd a to, That one of welle and þat othyr of wo.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.122 : So chaungyȝt he hese domys to punshyn or to spare, to wele or to woo, to heuene or to helle.
3.
In proverbs and prov. expressions; ~ stol.
Associated quotations
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)83/97 : Wyþ-vte wysdome is weole wel vnwurþ.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1962 : Thus hath he wel that wel deserveth.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7312 : Qua Mai bere na wel ne thole na wa.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.482-3 : Hym is wors that is fro wele ythrowe, Than he hadde erst noon of that wele yknowe.
- ?a1425(c1390) Chaucer Truth (Benson-Robinson)4 : Prees hath envye, and wele blent overal.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)82/6 : He is wel blyssed þat may sytten on hys wel-stool & tellyn of hys wo-stool.
- c1450(c1396) Chaucer Buk.(Benson-Robinson)27 : Unwys is he that kan no wele endure.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4621 : Eftir baret or bale, blis vs aperis And eftir wele comys wa.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.298 : In well and in woo þe werld euere turneth.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)9/29 : Þe well of þys world nys but a floure.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2276 : I wald to wacken ȝoure welah [alt. to: welth] now wirstill a turne.
Note: New spelling
Note: Belongs to sense 2.(a).--per MLL