Middle English Dictionary Entry
wēlī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | wēlī adj. Also welẹ̄ & (early) welig(e, weliȝ, wæliȝe, wælȝa, (SWM) weoli; pl. (early SWM) weoleȝen, (gen.) weolie. Comp. wēlī̆er, (N) wīlī̆er, (NWM) wīlger; sup. wēlī̆(e)st, wīlī̆est, (NWM) wēlgest. |
| Etymology | OE welig, weolig; quots. c1230 in sense 1.(c) & perh. c1275 in 1.(b) could also be construed as belonging to ME wīlī adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Affluent, rich; well-off, fortunate; ~ of (o) win; ~ on mod, wealthy in (one’s) spirit;
(b) mighty, powerful; of rushing water: forceful;
(c) as noun: a wealthy person;—also coll.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)5/31 : Forsih þysser wurlde wlænce, gyf þu wylle beon welig on þinen mode.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.VA (Vsp D.14)12/16 : Se feorðe unðeaw is, þæt se welige mann beo buten ælmesdæden.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Evang.(Bod 343)16/19 : Ða wæren tweȝen breðræn, wæliȝe on life…hæfden ænne fixnoð…to mycele tylunge.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)28/29 : Ða wæs on þære meniu þæs folces an swiðe weliȝ wif.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)540/6 : Diues: weli.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)108 : He is riche and weli man If þu him woldest luue beode.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9135 : Salamon…weli was o [Göt: wele was of] win.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)68/24 : On ðare nihte cwylmde…þe wælȝa rice.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6938 : Þe þridde hæhte Woden, þat is an weoli godd.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)375 : Water wylger ay wax, wonez þat stryede, Hurled into uch hous, hent þat þer dowelled.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1244 : On wyf hade ben worþe þe welgest fourre.
c
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.VA (Vsp D.14)11/22 : Unðeawes…on þyssen wurlde…Se junge buten gehyrsumnysse & se welige buten ælmesdæden.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)202/9 : Nam ich kinge richest…nam ich weolie wisest?
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)215 : He heihte his folc sumunen…þa weoleȝen & þa weaðlen.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7879 : Oft þe weliest [Trin-C: wiliest; Frf: welist] o win, Riue-liest þai fal in sin.
2.
(a) Of vegetation: abundant, flourishing, vigorous;
(b) of a place: opulent, magnificent;
(c) in phrase: in ~ wise, happily, blissfully.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.266 : The clawes drie & scabbid, old, vnsely, Kitte al away, & kepe up that is wely.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9958 : Þan was þar neuer suilk a hald, Ne nan welier [Göt: wylyer] in werld to wald.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)101 : I welke ay forth in wely wyse.
3.
As surname and in ship names.
Associated quotations
- (1230) Pat.R.Hen.III370 : Welifare.
- (1312) Pat.R.Edw.II465 : La Welyfare.
- (1323-4) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.251 : Navis que vocatur La Welifare de Lym exivit.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10187 : Gilbto. Wely.
- (1358-61) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 3 ()174 : La Welyfare.
- (1358-64) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 3174 : Fluna la Welyfare.