Wiktionary

wel

See also: Wel, we'l, and wel-

Translingual edit

Symbol edit

wel

  1. (international standards) ISO 639-2/B language code for Welsh.

Dutch edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ʋɛl/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: wel
  • Homophone: Well
  • Rhymes: -ɛl

Etymology 1 edit

From Middle Dutch wel, from Old Dutch *wela, wala, from Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Compare German wohl, English well, Icelandic vel, Swedish väl, Danish and Norwegian vel.

Adverb edit

wel

  1. the opposite of not (used to add positive emphasis to the verb, much like the auxiliaries do or does in affirmative sentences in English)
    Ik dacht dat je niet van golf hield? — Ik hou wél van golf!
    I thought you didn't like golf? — I do like golf!
    Je ziet wel dat...
    You [can] certainly see that...
    Ik ken hem wel, maar niet goed.
    I do know him, but not well.
    Maar wat wil je dan wel?
    Well then, what do you want?
  2. no less than, as much as, as many as (expressing amazement)
    Zij heeft wel twaalf uur gewerkt vandaag!
    She has worked no less than twelve hours today!
  3. fairly
    Ik voel me wel aardig, maar niet echt goed.
    I feel fairly decent, but not really good.
  4. (dated, dialectal) well
    Wat God doet, dat is wel gedaan.
    What God does, that is well done.
    "Dat is wel gedacht," zeide hij.
    "That is well thought through, " he said.
Usage notes edit
  • In sense 1, the word is often strongly stressed (especially when directly contradicting a negative statement or question) and may therefore be written with an accent, wél, as is common in written Dutch to indicate emphasis.
  • Using wel as adverbial form of goed is rare. Usually, the adjective is used in its bare form (as with other adjectives).
  • The use of wel in the sense of "fairly", while quite idiomatic, is very unemphatic. When translating to English, it is usually best to leave it out.
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
  • Afrikaans: wel
  • Negerhollands: wel
  • Skepi Creole Dutch: wel
  • → Kwinti: wel

Etymology 2 edit

From the adverb wel.

Noun edit

wel n (uncountable)

  1. weal (general state of well-being and prosperity)

Etymology 3 edit

From Middle Dutch *welle, from Old Dutch *wella, from Proto-Germanic *wallijō.

Noun edit

wel f (plural wellen, diminutive welletje n)

  1. (rare) well, source

Etymology 4 edit

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun edit

wel c (plural wellen, diminutive welletje n)

  1. well; shaft (excavation made for the extraction of mineral resources)

Etymology 5 edit

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb edit

wel

  1. inflection of wellen:
    1. first-person singular present indicative
    2. imperative

Middle Dutch edit

Etymology edit

From Old Dutch *wela, wala, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Pronunciation edit

Adverb edit

wel (comparative bat or beter, superlative best)

  1. well

Alternative forms edit

Descendants edit

Further reading edit

Middle English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Old English wel, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /wɛl/, /wɛːl/, /weːl/

Adverb edit

wel (comparative bettre, bet, superlative best)

  1. Well, amazingly, expertly; in a good or excellent way:
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
      Ful wel she sange the service devine, / Entuned in hire nose ful swetely.
    1. Fittingly, suitably; in a fitting way.
    2. Correctly, accurately; in an accurate way.
    3. Stoutly, boldly, bravely; with courageousness.
    4. In an easily discernible or understood manner.
    5. (rare) In a way suggesting acute discernment or reasoning.
    6. With no challenge, struggle, or hardship.
    7. In a large quantity or amount; copiously or plenteously.
  2. With care, attention, or fastidiousness:
    1. Mindfully; with care taken to others' wishes or beliefs.
    2. Painstakingly; with care taken to include or incorporate details.
    3. Cautiously; with care taken to avoid mistakes.
  3. In a way that is appealing or pleasing to someone or some standard:
    1. Traditionally; in the prescribed or proper way.
    2. Virtuously, morally, religiously; according to morals.
    3. Healthily; in a way displaying good health and condition.
    4. Beautifully; in a way pleasing to senses or sensibilities.
    5. Kindly, approvingly; in a way causing respect.
  4. To or with a great extent or depth: extensively, comprehensively:
    1. In an intensifying sense; highly, greatly, very.
    2. In a superlative sense; incredibly, really, extremely.
    3. Totally, entirely; in a way that encompasses everything
    4. With the right or required depth or efficacy; enough.
    5. In a final or decisive manner; with finality.
  5. Luckily, fortuitously; with good luck or fortune.
  6. In a rigid or secure way; stably or fixedly.
  7. For a suitable or fitting reason or cause; appropriately.
  8. As much as; to the specified extent, not smaller than.
  9. Around, about (a given quantity or measure)
  10. (semi-interjectional) Probably, maybe, potentially.
  11. (rare) Truthfully, honestly; in a heartfelt way.

Descendants edit

References edit

Adjective edit

wel (comparative bet) (almost always predicative)

  1. Lucky; experiencing good luck or fortune.
  2. Good, worthy, commendable; of good quality or moral status.
  3. Wealthy, prosperous, accomplished; experiencing success.
  4. Pleased, happy, glad; experiencing happiness.
  5. Healthy; experiencing good health and/or in good condition.
  6. Fine, acceptable, suitable, useable; having no problems.
  7. (rare) Having good grooming or personal hygiene.

Descendants edit

References edit

Interjection edit

wel

  1. Used to preface or begin a statement or situation.
  2. Used to acknowledge or reply to a statement or situation.
  3. Used to indicate victory, realisation, or overcoming.

Descendants edit

References edit

North Frisian edit

Etymology edit

From Old Frisian wel, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Verb edit

wel

  1. (Föhr-Amrum Dialect) to want
  2. (Föhr-Amrum Dialect) shall, will (future tense auxiliary verb)

Usage notes edit

  • wel, wal, wääl, wul, and wulen were previously written as well, wall, wäl, wull and wullen respectively.

Conjugation edit

Conjugation of wel
infinitive I wel
infinitive II -
past participle wulen
imperative singular -
imperative plural -
  present past
1st-person singular ik wal ik wul
2nd-person singular dü wääl dü wulst
3rd-person singular hi/hat/at wal hi/hat/at wul
1st-person dual wat wel wat wul
2nd-person dual jat wel jat wul
1st-person plural wi wel wi wul
2nd-person plural jam wel jam wul
3rd-person plural jo wel jo wul
  perfect pluperfect
1st-person singular ik haa wulen ik hed wulen
2nd-person singular dü heest wulen dü hedst wulen
3rd-person singular hi/hat/at hee wulen hi/hat/at hed wulen
1st-person dual wat haa wulen wat hed wulen
2nd-person dual jat haa wulen jat hed wulen
1st-person plural wi haa wulen wi hed wulen
2nd-person plural jam haa wulen jam hed wulen
3rd-person plural jo haa wulen jo hed wulen
  future (skel) future (wel)
1st-person singular ik skal wel ik wal wel
2nd-person singular dü skääl wel dü wääl wel
3rd-person singular hi/hat/at skal wel hi/hat/at wal wel
1st-person dual wat skel wel wat wel wel
2nd-person dual jat skel wel jat wel wel
1st-person plural wi skel wel wi wel wel
2nd-person plural jam skel wel jam wel wel
3rd-person plural jo skel wel jo wel wel


Old English edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Akin to Old Frisian wela, Old Saxon wela, Old High German wola, Old Norse vel, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila).

Pronunciation edit

Adverb edit

wel (comparative bet, superlative betest)

  1. well

Descendants edit

Squamish edit

Etymology edit

Cognate with Halkomelem wô:l (“cattail”).

Noun edit

wel

  1. cattail, bullrush

Tok Pisin edit

Etymology edit

From English oil.

Noun edit

wel

  1. oil

Adjective edit

wel

  1. slippery
  2. tricky; cunning
  3. inedible
  4. feral

Welsh edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from English well.

Pronunciation edit

Interjection edit

wel

  1. well

Yola edit

Adverb edit

wel

  1. Alternative form of waal (“well”)
    • 1867, “VERSES IN ANSWER TO THE WEDDEEN O BALLYMORE”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 1, page 100:
      A laafe ing lemethès chote wel ta ba zang,
      A leaf in tatters, I know well to be sung,

References edit

  • Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 100
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