† ˈwealful, a. Obs.
Forms: 3 weole-, 3–5 wele-, 4–5 welful, 4 wellful, Sc. velfull, 5 welfull, 6 weelful, 6–7 weal(e)full.
[f. weal n.1 + -ful.]
Happy, prosperous, fortunate, blessed, gladsome.
| c 1230 Hali Meid. (MS. Titus) 31 For, beo hit nu, þat te beo richedom riue, ant tine wide wahes wlonke & welefulle. a 1240 Sawles Warde in O.E. Hom. I. 259 Hire wlite se weoleful þat euch eorðlich liht is þeoster þer oȝeines. 1352 Minot Poems viii. 17 Weleful men war ȝe, i-wis. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. met. i. (1868) 4 Þilke deeþ of men is welful þat ne comeþ not in ȝeres þat ben swete. c 1386 ― Man of Law's T. 353 O cleere, o welful Auter, hooly croys. 1406 Hoccleve La Male Regle 402 O god!..Weleful lord. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 16999 And wel-full and blyssed be tho betynges and skowrynges, that compellyn a chylde to declyne ffrom his trespacys and his Errours. 1556 N. Grimalde Cicero De Offic. Pref. to Rdr. {fatpara}vj, If it bee well, and wisely, and conueniently done: we shall be wealfull, and in a blessed case. 1609 J. Davies (Heref.) Holy Rood D 3, To tell the Ierkes with ioy, that ioy do bring, Is both a wealefull, and a wofull thing. |
Hence † ˈwealfully adv., † ˈwealfulness Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. iii. (1868) 37 It deliteþ me to comen now to þe singuler vphepyng of þi welefulnesse. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew) 663 Alhale, þu blissit croice, þat is hallowit welfully of Ihesu cryste in þe body. Ibid. 785 A matrone þat wellfully quhile maryt wes with a senatour of þe place. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. vi. 24 If a man be riche and fulfild with worldly welfulnesse, some commenden it. 1388 Wyclif 3 John 2 Of alle thingis Y make preyer, that thou entre and fare welefuly, as thi soule doith welefuli. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. 274 Þat euery þing miȝt in welfulnes To ȝoure encres perseueren and contvne. |