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wel

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Appendix:Variations of "wel"

Translingual

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Symbol

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wel

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

Dutch

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Pronunciation

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

Etymology 1

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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

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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
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  • 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
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Descendants
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  • Afrikaans: wel
  • Negerhollands: wel
  • Skepi Creole Dutch: wel
  • → Kwinti: wel

Etymology 2

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From the adverb wel.

Noun

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wel n (uncountable)

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

Etymology 3

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

Noun

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wel f (plural wellen, diminutive welletje n)

  1. (rare) well, source

Etymology 4

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

Noun

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wel c (plural wellen, diminutive welletje n)

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

Etymology 5

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See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

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wel

  1. inflection of wellen:
    1. first-person singular present indicative
    2. (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
    3. imperative

Middle Dutch

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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wel (comparative bat or beter, superlative best)

  1. well

Alternative forms

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Descendants

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Further reading

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Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /wɛl/, /wɛːl/, /weːl/

Adverb

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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

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References

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Adjective

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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

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References

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Interjection

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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

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References

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North Frisian

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Etymology 1

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From Old Frisian wella, willa.

Verb

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wel (Föhr-Amrum, Sylt)

  1. to want
  2. shall, will (future tense auxiliary verb)
Usage notes
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  • The verbs wel and skel have the same conjugation. On Föhr and Amrum, these are among the five highly irregular verbs along with kem, wed, wees. The Sylt conjugation is also irregular, but less markedly so.
Conjugation
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Conjugation of wel (Föhr-Amrum dialect)
infinitive I wel
infinitive II (tu) welen
past participle wulen
imperative singular —
imperative plural —
  present past
1st singular wal wul
2nd singular wääl wulst
3rd singular wal wul
plural wel wul
  perfect pluperfect
1st singular haa wulen hed wulen
2nd singular heest wulen hedst wulen
3rd singular hee wulen hed wulen
plural haa wulen hed wulen
  future (skel) future (wel)
1st singular skal wel wal wel
2nd singular skääl wel wääl wel
3rd singular skal wel wal wel
plural skel wel wel wel
Conjugation of wel (Sylt dialect)
infinitive I wel
infinitive II (tö) welen
past participle wul
imperative —
  present past
1st singular wel wul
2nd singular wet wut
3rd singular wel wul
plural / dual wel wul
  perfect pluperfect
1st singular haa wul her wul
2nd singular heest wul herst wul
3rd singular heer wul her wul
plural / dual haa wul her wul
  future (skel) future (wel)
1st singular skel wel wel wel
2nd singular sket wel wet wel
3rd singular skel wel wel wel
plural / dual skel wel wel wel
Alternative forms
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Etymology 2

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From Proto-Germanic *hwehwlą.

Noun

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wel n (plural welen) (Föhr-Amrum)

  1. wheel
  2. bike, bicycle
Alternative forms
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Old English

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Etymology

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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

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Adverb

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wel (comparative bet, superlative betest)

  1. well

Descendants

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Squamish

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Etymology

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

Noun

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wel

  1. cattail, bullrush

Tok Pisin

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Etymology

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From English oil.

Noun

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wel

  1. oil

Adjective

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wel

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

Welsh

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English well.

Pronunciation

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Interjection

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wel

  1. well

Yola

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Adverb

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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

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  • 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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