Middle English Dictionary Entry
wel-willing(e ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | wel-willing(e ppl. Also welwillende, welwilland, welwilinde, wilwillande & (early) wælwillendæ, (infl.) welwillendan; pl. welwillinges, welewillandes. |
| Etymology | From wel adv. & willing(e (ppl. of willen v.(1)) & OE wel-willende. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ivele-willinge adj. & n.
1.
(a) Of good will, benevolent; favorably disposed (toward sb. or sth.); inclined (to do sth.); of a planet: propitious, benign;
(b) as noun: one who is well disposed to another, a friend; also, a well-wisher, supporter;—also coll.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)129/1 : Seo wuldor & wurðmynt þan welwillendan Scyppende eallra his wundra & his weldæden, se þa ana is God a on ecnysse.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)92/6 : Þe wælwillendæ Scyppend let hyre habban hire aȝene cyres ȝeweald þa wearð heo bi hyre aȝene willæ iwemmed þurh deofles lare.
- a1200(?OE) Cmb.Hom.(Cmb Ii.1.33)109/229 : Se halȝa ȝewat of worlde to Gode mid siȝefæstum martirdome, oferswiðdum deofle, to þam ecan wuldre mid þam welwillendan Drihtene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.507 : It semeth love is welwillende To hem that ben continuende With besy herte to poursuie Thing which that is to love due.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)353/13 : Þei haue rad in þat swete, glorious book of his doctrine, & by redyng þei haue founde þat he was euere wel-willinge to fulfille myn obedience.
- a1456(c1425) Lydg.Eagle (Trin-C R.3.20)17 : Þis foole is sacred vnto Iubyter Þe lord of lordes in þe heghe heven, Weel-willing planete.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)521 : Wele wyllynge [Win: Wyl wyllyng], or of god wylle: Benevolus.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)26/19 : Charite…distillith the dropes of vertues vnder the which greine good wil groweth and good hope fructifieth, that is to be pacient in aduersite, temporat in prosperite…welwillyng to his enemyes and frendis.
- (1442) Wars France in RS 22.2465 : Oure said adversaire…hathe leid siege to Baione…the whiche thing doing is…shameful a thing unto us and unto alle our welle willinge lovers and subgittz.
- c1450 Bk.GGrace (Eg 2006)486/17 : Be þowe goodelye ande wele willynge to here alle þat clepe to the.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)104/9 : To be benigne in hert will make þe afable, compassible…kynde, welwilling, and gracious to alle.
- (1461) Paston1.276 : I knew nowthyr her mastyr ner them, not [read: nor] whedyr they wer wel wyllyng to yow or not; and ther-for me thowt it had be no sendyng of no lettyr by hem.
- (1465) Doc.Beverley in Seld.Soc.1452b : We will and charge that then the Governers of oure said towne be unto theime…well-willyng and frendly in all that belongeth unto them as right will.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)713/16 : I am slayne by felony and treson…besechynge som worshypfull knyght to revenge my dethe, insomuch as I have bene ever to my power well-wyllynge unto kynge Arthurs courte.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)183/10 : Hit Is more Sure to euery Prynce to comaunde His Pepill well willynge to hym than ewill willynge.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)964 : iij lordes came on to the kyng Desireng hym on huntyng for to goo…To ther desire the kyng was welewillyng.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)112/11 : We hit clepieþ oure bread of echedaye…uor þet is þe echedayes dol þet god yefþ to his wel wilynde.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)368 : Reule þo folk in rightwisnesse: Oure sib men and oure wele-willandes [vr. wyl wyllande].
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.59 : Whan þe kyng wist, þat þei had taken land, For þo barons he sent þat were his wele willand.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.112 : He exiled þam & schent, Þat had kept þe land þorgh Mald þe Emperice; Þat were hir wele willand were putt out of office.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8948 : He spak so wyþ þe kyng of þat land Þat he was his wel willand Vpon Bretaigne a route to renge.
- (1463) Paston2.372 : Wretyn…Be your welewylland, Abbot of Langeleye.
- a1475 Lorde þat ȝeuest (Rwl B.408)241 : Lorde…Rewarde…To al oure frendes, and wel wyllynges…reste of heuen after þer labours.