▪ I. welcome, n.1, int., and a.
(ˈwɛlkəm)
Forms: α. 1 wilcuma (wilcymo), 2–3 wilcume, (3 wilkume), 6 Sc. wylcum, wylcome; 1 wylcume, wylcyme, 3 wulcume, 3–5 wolcome. β. 2–3, 5 welcume, 3–4 wel come, 3–6 wel-come, welcum, 4 welkum, 4–7 welcom (5 Sc. velcom), 7 well come (7 Sc. weillcome), 7–8 well-come, 3– welcome.
[Originally OE. wilcuma (f. wil-, will- will, desire, pleasure + cuma comer, guest) = OHG. willicomo, MHG. and MLG. willekome, -kume (whence OF. wilecome), with subsequent alteration of the first element to wel- well adv., and identification of the second with the imperative or infinitive of the verb come, under the influence of OF. bien venu, bien veigniez, L. bene venisti, bene venias, etc., and possibly of the Scand. forms given below.
Parallel developments appear in the cognate languages, either with retention of the original form of the first element, and reduction or extension of the second, as in older G. wille-, willkum(m), -komm, G. willkomm, LG. willkâm, MDu. willecomen, MLG. willekomen (LG. willkamen), MHG. willechomen, -komen (G. willkommen), or with substitution of wel- for wil-, as in MDu. wellecome (Du. welkom), -comen; also MLG. wolkomen, WFris. wolkom. It is not clear whether the ON. velkominn (Norw. velkomen; MSw. vel-, välkomin, Sw. väl-, Da. velkommen) is an independent formation or the result of LG. and Romanic influence.
The occasional ME. forms in wol- may represent either the southern wul- from wyl-, wil-, or the wol which appears as a variant of wel well adv.]
† A. n. One whose coming is pleasing or desirable; an acceptable person or thing. Obs. (OE. only.)
| Beowulf 1894 He..cwæþ þæt wilcuman Wedera leodum scaþan scirhame to scipe foron. c 900 Bæda's Hist. iv. ix. (1890) 290 Me is, cwæð heo, þin cyme on miclum ðonce; & þu eart leof wilcuma [L. et bene venisti]. a 1000 Riddles ix. 11 (Gr.) Ic..hæleþum bodiᵹe wilcumena fela woþe minre. |
B. In predicative use, passing into adj.
1. a. Of a person: Acceptable as a visitor, companion, etc.; also in phrase to make (a person) welcome.
| α Beowulf 388 Ᵹesaᵹa him eac wordum, þæt hie sint wilcuman Deniᵹa leodum. a 1000 Cædmon's Satan 617 (Gr.) Ᵹe sind wilcuman! gað in wuldres leoht to heofona rice. c 1205 Lay. 8528 Wulcume ært þu Iulius. Ibid. 15995 Mærling þu ært wilcume. a 1225 Ancr. R. 394 Biturn þe and cum aᵹean, wilkume schaltu beon me. c 1300 Beket (Percy Soc.) 1265 For ther nere hi noȝt wolcome: for the schame bifore, And the desclandre of Seint Thomas. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 532/1 Wolcome, exceptus. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxvii. 38 Quhen schow growis meik and tame, Scho salbe wylcome hame. |
| β a 1200 Vices & Virtues 99 Ȝif ðar cumþ ani þoht oðer ani word a godes half hie bieð hire swiðe welcume. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1600 Vor þan ic am hire wel welcume. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10456 Þe king..vel adoun akne..To þe erchebissopes fet..& sede leue fader wel come mote þou be. c 1350 Will. Palerne 3148 Ȝe ben welcom to me bi crist þat me made. c 1386 Chaucer Sompn. T. 103 Algates wel come be ye, by my fey. c 1400 Destr. Troy 9392 He..was welcom I-wis to the weghes all. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxlii. 276 And no creature warned that feste, but alle were welcome. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxviii. 253 They that gyue are euer welcome. 1551 Crowley Pleas. & Pain 597 In dede, very many do him entertayne Lyke as there were none more welcome then he. 1607 Shakes. Timon i. ii. 23 Timo. O Apermantus, you are welcome. Aper. No: You shall not make me welcome: I come to haue thee thrust me out of doores. 1667 M. Poole Dialogue 150 And the oftner they come to him, the welcomer they are. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. ii. 83 Since for a little money all are welcom, one may eat as many as he pleases. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones v. i, Harlequin..was always welcome on the Stage. 1849 James Woodman iv, Lord Chartley and his friends were right welcome. 1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 635 Visitors from abroad..are always welcome. |
b. In attributive use.
| 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 901/1 When we shall see them..bee in credit and be the welcomest men in the world which fight against God and his trueth. 1718 Prior Solomon i. 312 They..with full Mirth receive the welcome Guest. 1829 Southey Sir T. More (1831) I. 240 The kindest host, the welcomest guest. 1902 Westm. Gaz. 27 Jan. 8/2 A heartily-welcome member of the family. |
2. a. Of a thing: Acceptable, agreeable, pleasing. † to be evil welcome: to be badly received.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 24819 His presand welcum was and he, Als bringand wont was to be. c 1375 Ibid. 10276 (Fairf.) Thyne offeryng heþer is welcome. 1570 Foxe A. & M. (1583) 1620/1 As for death, if it come welcome bee it. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 69/2 Dogs that barke against the seruants of God, seeking nothing so much as to..cause their doctrine to be euill welcome. 1654 Cockaine Dianea i. ii. 47 Knowing a full Relation will come the welcommest to me. 1657 in Verney Mem. (1894) III. 304 A few instructions would have beene welcome. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 1 ¶11 Praise is not so welcome to the Idler as quiet. 1821 Scott Kenilw. vii, I think fetters of gold are like no other fetters—they are ever the weightier the welcomer. 1838 Lytton Alice i. ix, This letter was by no means welcome. 1851 Carlyle Sterling i. i, Human Portraits, faithfully drawn, are of all pictures the welcomest on human walls. |
| Phrases. 1598 Fergusson Sc. Prov. (S.T.S.) 52 Of untymous persons. He is as welcome as water in a rivin ship. He is as welcome as snaw in harvest. 1659 Howell Lex., Prov., Engl. Prov. i. 11/1 As welcome as water into ones shoes. As welcome as Flowers in May. 1671 T. Hunt Abeced. 28 Scholast. 90 As welcome as Snow in the Harvest. |
b. In attributive use.
| 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. 189 b, Till the swallow with her appearing, promise a welcommer season. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. i. 66 And he hath brought vs smooth and welcome newes. ? 1622 Fletcher Love's Cure v. iii, Why this..will be A welcomer present to our Master Philip Than the return from his Indies. 1660 Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. xxxvii. 309 The People, upon a very well-come Occasion testified their Joy by numerous Bon-fires. 1697 Dryden æneis i. 244 The Trojans, worn with Toils, and spent with Woes, Leap on the welcome Land. 1760 Fawkes tr. Anacreon Introd. p. vi, A Person of Anacreon's Character must..meet with a welcome Reception wherever Wit and Pleasure were esteemed. 1839 F. A. Kemble Resid. in Georgia (1863) 49 Port and bacon would prove a most welcome addition to their farinaceous diet. 1916 Contemp. Rev. Dec. 686 There are many other welcome signs of the drawing together of the Churches. |
3. a. Freely permitted or allowed, cordially invited, (to do or to have something).
| 13.. Seuyn Sages (W.) 3822 He bad them say, That thai war welkum alway To soiorn in that same cetè. c 1400 Sc. Trojan War (Horstm.) ii. 1924 To get þat golde..Thai said he suld be richt welcume. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 71 Forsuith thow suld be wel-cum to pas hame with me. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 40 They were very welcome, if they thought fit, to go. 1729 P. Walkden Diary (1866) 40, I told him he was welcome to have the lend of it till Martinmas. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xxv, You're very welcome to pass another night here. 1861 Palmerston in Autob. Ld. C. Paget (1896) Pref. p. vii, I must have 20 or 24 Iron-cased ships—you are quite welcome to have 40 or 48. 1882 ‘Edna Lyall’ Donovan xviii, He's welcome to call me what he pleases. |
b. and welcome, added to a statement to imply: And he is (you are, etc.) freely permitted or cordially invited to do so, to have it, or the like.
| 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 22 Preamble, He may suerly comme hedir and welcome. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 104 So lo: now eate and welcome neighbour (quoth he). 1609 Shakes. Per. ii. iv. 22, i. Lord. Lord Hellicane, a word. Hell. With me? and welcome, happy day my Lords. 1755 Man No. 39. 5 And if this be done, let them judge and welcome. 1764 Museum Rust. III. 136 On the continent let them use the scythe and welcome, because there their weather is not so unsettled as ours. 1836 C. P. Traill Backw. Canada 75 Here are some cakes;..take 'em, and welcome. 1869 Lowell Study Wind. (1871) 2 Burgoyne may surrender and welcome. |
c. Freely offered or open to all. nonce-use.
| 1772 Pennant Tour Scot. (1774) 364 My hall was filled with my friends and kindred:..and hecatombs of beeves and deer covered my rude but welcome tables. |
d. you are (or you're) welcome: a polite formula used in response to an expression of thanks.
| [1907 W. W. Jacobs Short Cruises ii. 34 ‘Thank you,’ said the girl, with a pleasant smile. ‘You're quite welcome,’ said the skipper.] 1960 Times 14 Sept. 12/7 The coloured lift attendant in South Carolina who had that attractive way of saying, almost singing, ‘You're welcome’ whenever we thanked her. 1977 P. Dickinson Walking Dead i. iv. 55 ‘Thanks,’ said Foxe..‘You're welcome,’ said Dreiser. 1980 A. E. Fisher Midnight Men viii. 93 He dialled Directory Enquiries and asked the girl if she had a number. She gave him one and told him he was welcome. |
e. you are welcome (to something): said ironically of something one is glad to be without.
| 1937 A. Thirkell Summer Half i. 10 ‘Fine Old English Gentlemen,’ said the applicant enthusiastically. ‘You are welcome to him.’ 1969 J. N. Smith Is he Dead, Miss ffinch? xviii. 118 My Uncle Len and Aunty Marge live there in a caravan. (They're welcome.) |
C. 1. a. Used in the vocative as a form of address to a visitor or guest; hence as int., serving as an expression of good will or pleasure at the coming of a person. (Sometimes addressed to a thing personified or quasi-personified.)
| α c 890 Wærferth tr. Gregory's Dial. 276 He ongan..þus cweþan: ‘wilcuman la, mine hlafordas, wilcuman la, mine hlafordas!’ c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxv. 23 Euge, wilcymo. c 1100 Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 191/13 Euax, wilcume. c 1205 Lay. 22485 Wulcume sire Arður, wilcume lauerd [c 1275 wolcome]. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxv. 51 Now tak me be the hand, Wylcum! my golk of maireland. 1568 Henryson's Orpheus & Eurydice 155 (Bannatyne MS.) Fair weill my place..And wylcum woddis wyld. |
| β c 1150 De Vita et Miraculis S. Godrici Heremitæ de Finchale (Surtees) 306 Dixit enim hæc verba Anglica..‘Welcume, Simund; welcume, Simund’. a 1240 Sawles Warde in O.E. Hom. I. 259 A seið warschipe, welcume, liues luue. a 1300 Cursor M. 8168 Alsuith sum he þat king had knaun, He said, ‘sir welcum to þin aun’. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xii. 62 Al hayl, quod on þo, and I answered, welcome and with whom be ȝe. a 1450 Mirk's Festial 222 Welcom, my swete son and cosyn. c 1520 Skelton Magnyf. 920 What! whom haue we here, Jenkyn Joly? Nowe welcom, by the God holy! 1552 Huloet, Welcome euen with all my herte, optato aduenisti. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. ii. i. 92 Faire Princesse, welcom to the Court of Nauar. 1656 Cowley Misc. 31 Welcome learn'd Cicero, whose blest Tongue and Wit Preserves Romes greatness yet. 1702 Rowe Tamerl. i. i, Wellcome! thou worthy partner of my laurels. 1766 Goldsm. Vicar W. xii, Welcome, welcome, Moses! well, my boy, what haue you brought us from the fair? 1842 Macaulay Lays, Horatius li, Now welcome, welcome, Sextus! Now welcome to thy home! 1865 Swinburne Chastelard ii. i. 76 Look, Here come my riddle-readers. Welcome all. 1879 Tennyson Falcon (1884) 105 Welcome to this poor cottage, my dear lady. |
b. to bid, wish (a person) welcome (home): to tell (him) that he is gladly received (home or as a guest, etc.).
| c 1375 Cursor M. 15060 (Fairf.) Þe resceyues þine awen folk & biddis welcome hame [Gött. and biddes þe welcum hame]. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. i. 201 Wife, bid these gentlemen welcome: come, we haue a hot Venison pasty to dinner. 1720 N. Blundell Diary (1895) 162 My Wife sent Ned Howerd to Wooton to wish my Lady well-come-home. |
c. The word ‘welcome’ displayed in letters.
| 1872 March. Dufferin Canad. Jrnl. (1891) 42 The rooms were ornamented with ‘welcomes’ and wreaths of maple. |
d. welcome aboard, said (in allusion to nautical usage) as a joc. greeting to someone joining a particular group, enterprise, etc.
| 1962 J. D. MacDonald Key to Suite ii. 28 He put Hubbard's material in the envelope, hesitated, then scrawled across the front of it, ‘Welcome aboard!’ 1970 J. Sangster Touchfeather, Too iii. 79 We headed across the cool green lawn to the clubhouse... I was introduced to the manager..[who] had once served..in the navy. ‘Welcome aboard, Miss Touchfeather,’ he said. 1977 ‘J. le Carré’ Hon. Schoolboy v. 111 ‘Welcome aboard,’ said Guillam... They had reached the fifth floor. |
2. † welcome to our house, a name for the Cypress Spurge, Euphorbia Cyparissias. Also welcome-home-husband.
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. cxxxii. 407 The fifth [is called in English] Cypresse Spurge, or among women, Welcome to our house. 1665 Lovell Herball (ed. 2) 465 Welcome to our house, see Cypres spurge. 1828 Carr Craven Gloss., Welcome-home-husband, Cypress Spurge. |
▪ II. welcome, n.2
(ˈwɛlkəm)
[f. prec. or next. Cf. Du. welkom, G. willkomm, MHG. willekum.]
1. a. An assurance to a visitor or stranger that he or she is welcome; a pleasant or hearty greeting or reception given to a person on arrival at a house or other place.
to outstay, or overstay, one's welcome: see the vbs.
| 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. (1812) II. 433 She had neuer before ben at Parys, therfore the burgesses of Parys gaue her her welcome [Fr. Si luy deuoient les bourgeois de Paris sa bien venue]. 1610 Shakes. Temp. v. i. 111 And to thee, and thy Company, I bid a hearty welcome. 1611 ― Wint. T. iv. iv. 560 Me thinkes I see Leontes opening his free Armes, and weeping His welcomes forth. 1649 J. Taylor (Water P.) Wand. Wonders of West 15 A house..where I tooke a welcome, a supper and a bed, till the next morning. 1703 Earl of Orrery As you find it ii. i. 20 I'll promise you nothing but an English-Dinner, and an English-Welcome. 1757 Dyer Fleece i. 123 The little smiling cottage, where at eve He meets his rosy children at the door, Prattling their welcomes. 1814 Byron Lara i. vii, Warm was his welcome to the haunts of men. 1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. xiv. 242 That he was the friend beloved by Everard, was sufficient to insure him a welcome from Evelyn. 1847 M. Howitt Ballads 144 Then the abbot he prayed them all be still, And let their welcomes wait. 1874 Green Short Hist. iii. §6. 145 The welcome of the townsmen made up..for the ill-will..of both clergy and monks. |
b. transf. (esp. with adjs.) A greeting or reception of an unpleasant or unsatisfactory nature.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV (1550) 39 b, But when they aproched the toune, the artillarie beganne to shote... This welcome semed very straung to kyng Edward, ponderynge together yestardayes promise, and this dayes doynge. c 1600 T. Pont Topogr. Acc. Cunningham (Maitl. Club) 10 Bot Vallace with a veill armed companey gifs them a very hote uelcome. 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. i. xii. 78 The Invaders finding so ill a welcome, returned. 1725 P. Walkden Diary (1866) 11 We..then went on to Mr. Jolly's, where we met but with a cold welcome. |
† c. A special award in a lottery, made to the persons first drawing lots or blanks on the opening day or on each of the subsequent days. Obs.
| 1567 (Aug.) Proclam. Gen. Lottery (Arch. Bodl. F. c. 11, fol. 108), The first person to whome any Lot shall happen, shal haue for his welcome..the value of fiftie poundes sterling. Ibid., The Second..shall haue..for his welcome..thirtie pounds. 1624 Capt. J. Smith Virginia iv. 118 Welcomes. To him that first shall be drawne out with a blanke, 100 Crownes. Ibid. 119 The prizes, welcomes, and rewards, shall be payed in ready Mony, Plate, or other goods. |
2. a. welcome home, entertainment provided to celebrate the return home of a person; also, expressions of greeting made at a person's homecoming. Also transf. Also freq. attrib.
| 1530 Tindale Answ. More iv. ii. Wks. (1572) 323/1 As when we call one that is new come home to breakfast and set a Capon before him and say, this is your welcome home. 1578 H. Wotton Courtlie Controv. 296 She had good prouision of embracings, & wanton toyes, to feast him at his welcome home. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. viii. vii. 776 Sylla of Carthage, upon my returne to Rome, after I had bene long absent, invited me to a supper for my welcome home. 1637 Rutherford Let. to J. Kennedy Lett. (1664) 186 Our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of our first night's welcome-home to heaven. 1680 Lady Russell Let. 6 Mar. (1807) 3, I am very earnest to hear,..how my brother is after his journey, and melancholy welcome home. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate ii, I hope Madeleine has not forgotten my fire,’ murmured Miss Riddell, as she walked..down the Champs Elysées. ‘Such evenings as these one wants a welcome home.’ 1955 B. Pym Less than Angels vi. 71 We aren't getting on very fast with your welcome-home party. 1966 B. Kimenye Kalasanda Revisited 32 He would take the creature up to the Musaka's and ask Miriamu to prepare it as a special ‘welcome home’ supper for Yosefu. 1974 M. Birmingham You can help Me viii. 178 It gives me the chance to be part of your welcome-home committee. |
b. Sc. (See quots.)
| 1808 Jamieson, Welcome-haim, the repast presented to a bride, when she enters the house of a bridegroom. 1818 Edin. Mag. Nov. 415/1 On Monday evening, just about gloamin, the husbands and wives of the village assemble at the house of the newly-married couple, to celebrate the welcome hame, by a good drink and funny crack. |
c. dial. A bell tolled on the occasion of a person's death. Also transf.
| 1878 F. Kilvert Jrnl. 25 Dec. (1977) 328 The Welcome Home, as it chimed softly and slowly to greet the little pilgrim coming to his rest, sounded bleared and muffled through the thick snowy air. 1948 F. Thompson Still glides Stream xii. 226 It was a small, homely procession which..accompanied Reuben on the last of his many journeys. The silvery sweet strain of a robin threaded the silence. ‘The welcome home!’ said Mrs. Finch. |
3. Hearty or hospitable reception of a stranger or guest.
| 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iii. i. 26 Small cheere and great welcome, makes a merrie feast. 1596 ― Tam. Shr. Ind. i. 103 Go sirra, take them to the Butterie, And giue them friendly welcome euerie one. 1641 Nicholas Papers (Camden) I. 39 It will much depend uppon what assurance of welcome we shall have from home in more then beare words. 1845 Lingard Anglo-Saxon Ch. I. iii. 137 Edilwalch, king of Sussex, received him [Wilfrid] with welcome. 1859 Tennyson Enid 387 A youth, that following with a costrel bore The means of goodly welcome, flesh and wine. 1879 ― Falcon (1884) 105 And welcome turns a cottage to a palace. |
4. A welcoming salute. Also attrib.
| 1615 R. Cocks Diary (Hakl. Soc.) I. 63 The Duch envited the King of Firando abord their ship, and gave hym 3 pec. ordinance for a wellcom. 1808 Scott Marm. i. ix, The gunner held his linstock yare, For welcome shot prepar'd. Ibid. i. x, The cannon from the ramparts glanced, And thundering welcome gave. |
† 5. powder of welcome, a medicament for the eyes.
The origin is obscure: welcome is merely a rendering of the name used in the orig. L. of the quot. 1541, viz. pulvis benvenuti. Cf. Treasure of Poore Men (1540) 8 ‘Of pouder called Bonauenture’.
| 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Form. Y 1 b, Fyfthly is put the powdre of welcome, of myne owne makynge for all spottes of the eyes. |
6. attrib. and Comb., as welcome mat U.S. colloq., a mat put out to greet welcome visitors; chiefly used in fig. phrs. to indicate a friendly welcome (cf. red carpet s.v. red a. 19 a); welcome song: spec. the first ode composed by Purcell (see quots.); welcome wagon N. Amer., a car bringing gifts and samples from local merchants to newcomers in a community; also fig.
| 1951 I. Asimov Foundation (1953) ii. v. 73, I certainly don't intend to lay down the welcome mat. 1963 M. McCarthy Group iii. 50, I can only ask you to come here whenever you're in town. The welcome mat will be out. 1978 R. Nixon Mem. 622 The door will not only be open—I've been weaving a welcome mat. |
| 1681 H. Purcell (song-title) A Welcome Song in the year 1681 for the King. 1883 Grove Dict. Mus. III. 47/1 In 1680..[Purcell] produced the first of his numerous odes, viz. ‘An Ode or Welcome Song for his Royal Highness [the Duke of York] on his return from Scotland’. 1942 Welcome song [see birthday ode s.v. birthday 3]. 1961 Webster, Welcome wagon. 1970 A. Toffler Future Shock (1971) vi. 104 We have in many American suburbs a commercial ‘Welcome Wagon’ service that accelerates the process by introducing newcomers to the chief stores and agencies in the community. 1971 H. T. Walden Anchorage Northeast 13 The welcome-wagon type of hospitality is not here. 1976 Times Lit. Suppl. 2 Jan. 4/3 He was never serious about moving to America, fearing perhaps that the American welcome wagon, by killing his habit of resentment with kindness and pelf, might stultify his..literary gifts. |
▪ III. welcome, v.1
(ˈwɛlkəm)
Forms: α. 1 (ᵹe)wilcumian, wylcumian, 3 wil-, wulcumen, wolcume, 4 wolcome. β. 1 wellcumian, 2 welcumien, 3 -cumen, 4–5 welcum, -kum (5 whellcwm, Sc. velcum); 3–5 welcome (6–7 pa. tense -commed).
[Originally OE. wilcumian, f. wilcuma welcome n.1, with later alteration of the first element in the same way as in the noun.]
1. trans. To greet (a person) with ‘welcome!’; to receive (a visitor) gladly and hospitably; to accord a friendly reception to; to make welcome.
| α c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. v. 47 Ᵹif ᵹe þæt an doð þæt ᵹe eowre ᵹebroðra wylcumiaþ. c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives iii. 507 And basilius sende sona him to-ᵹeanes and hine wylcumode. c 1205 Lay. 17098 Þe king..ut him gon ride..to wulcumen Mærlin. a 1250 Owl & Night. 440 Þe lilie mid hire faire wlite wolcomeþ [Jesus MS. welcumeþ] me. c 1300 Beket (Percy Soc.) 690 That folc to him drouȝ And wolcome him and makede feste. c 1350 Will. Palerne 4290 And worþili hire he wolcomed wen he hire mette. |
| β c 1000 in Engl. Studien VIII. 478 Ðæt folc..wellcumiaþ Fenix. c 1160 Ags. Gosp. (Hatton) Matt. v. 47 Ᵹyf ᵹe þæt an doð þæt ᵹe eowre ᵹebroðre welcumieð. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1396 And laban cam to ðat welle ner, faiȝer welcumede he ðer eliezer. c 1290 Beket 696 in S. Eng. Leg. 126 Þat folk sone to him drovȝ And welcomeden him. a 1300 Cursor M. 4015 He welcumd iacob selli fair, He wist he was his fader air. 13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 3850 Dame, in hert I am sary, That we haue noght al ful plenti, To welkum swilk a lord als he. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 849 Criseyde, at shorte wordes for to telle, Welcomed him, and doun by hir him sette. c 1400 Rule St. Benet (verse) 2411 For to welcum with wordes fre Euyr-ilk man in þer degre. c 1450 Merlin xxv. 447 [They ride] till thei come to logres the thirde day, and ther were thei richely welcomed. 1530 Palsgr. 779/1, I welcome with wordes or gentyll intreatyng. Je bienuiengne. 1557 Tusser 100 Points Husb., July x, Then welcome thy haruest folke, seruauntes and all: with mirth and good chere, let them furnish thine hall. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1638) 49 The yong Emperor..welcommed him full sore against his will. 1659 Nicholas Papers (Camden) IV. 130 Almost euery body would welcome the King and not a few expect him. 1725, 1732 [see speed v. 10 d]. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 195 He would have found that the nation was not yet prepared to welcome an armed deliverer from a foreign country. 1874 Green Short Hist. vii. §6. 405 The exiled merchants of Antwerp were welcomed by the merchants of London. |
b. Const. to, into (a place). Also with advs. of place, as ashore, back, up; esp. to welcome home.
| c 1205 Lay. 10957 He nom forð rihtes six wise cnihtes, to Custance heom sende, & wilcumede hine to londe. a 1300 Cursor M. 15060 Þe receiues þin aun folk, And welcums þe hame. a 1380 S. Bernard 1039 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 58/2 Þe erchebisshop aȝein him sent A worþi clerk of good entent, Him to welcome curteisliche In to þat ilke bisschopriche. a 1450 Mirk's Festial 115 Welcomyng hym wyth songe into þe chirch, as þay welcomet hym syngyng into þe cyte of Ierusalem. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iv. 439 And there they hull, expecting but the aide Of Buckingham, to welcome them ashore. Ibid. v. iii. 260 Your wiues shall welcome home the Conquerors. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. 71 Probus was welcommed into Britaine. 1629 Milton Christ's Nativ. 18 Hast thou no..solemn strein, To welcom him to this his new abode..? 1797 Jane Austen Sense & Sens. vi, They were interrupted..by the entrance of their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton. 1894 Lady M. Verney Verney Mem. III. 293 No one welcomed him back with the womanly love which mother and sister would have lavished upon him. |
c. fig. Also with in.
| 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, ii. ii. 7 Yet I know no cause Why I should welcome such a guest as greefe. 1599 Shakes. etc. Pass. Pilgr. 199 For she [the lark] doth welcome daylight with her ditte. 1785 Cowper Task iv. 41 So let us welcome peaceful ev'ning in. |
d. Const. to (an entertainment).
| 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 51 Our Ambassadour, the Gentlemen his followers and Sea-captaines were welcommed to a very neat and curious Banquet. |
2. To greet or receive with (or by) something (esp. of an unpleasant nature).
| 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iv. iv. 38, I am..driuen out of doores with it [sc. a beating] when I goe from home, welcom'd home with it when I returne. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶1 Zeale to promote the common good..is welcommed with suspicion in stead of loue, and with emulation in stead of thankes. 1639 Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 2 Venon..at his returne found himselfe welcomed with two disasters. 1653 J. Taylor (Water P.) Certain Trav. 13 Good Mrs. Martin who welcom'd me with good whit wine. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest i, If you return within an hour you will be welcomed by a brace of bullets. |
3. a. To greet heartily or joyfully (the return of a person, etc.).
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 761 His little Children climbing for a Kiss, Welcome their Father's late Return at Night. 1815 Shelley Alastor 283 Thy sweet mate will..welcome thy return with eyes Bright in the lustre of their own fond joy. 1870 Bryant Iliad v. 191 Since he no more should welcome their return From war. |
b. To greet with pleasure the coming or occurring of (an event, etc).
| 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. I. ii. 131 He..would have welcomed an escape from the dilemma perhaps as warmly as Henry would have welcomed it himself. 1874 Green Short Hist. ii. §3. 68 The religious movement..was welcomed with an almost passionate fanaticism. 1884 Gilmour Mongols xvii. 207 Such..difficulties..are welcomed..as subjects of debate. |
▪ IV. † welcome, v.2 Obs. rare.
[f. welcome n.1 and a.]
intr. To be welcome.
| c 1450 Lovelich Grail xlii. 278, 280 Ful lowde to hem they gonne to Crye, and seide ‘welcometh’ Al An hye..‘Welcometh’ quod Iosephes ful Sekerlye. |