† well away, adv. Obs.
1. Qualifying a comparative: Far and away, much. Cf. wella B.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 215 Þis is þe lif of þis lordis..And wel-a-wey wers and I shulde al telle. 1377 Ibid. B. xii. 263 Þe larke, þat is a lasse foule, is more louelich of ledne, And wel awey of wenge swifter þan þe pecok. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 119 And somdele lasse it [the river] was than Seyn But it was strayghter wel away. |
2. Used elliptically with can and a verb implied: well away with = put up with, tolerate, endure. Cf. away 16.
| 1569 Blague Sch. Conceytes 2 Whose pride I could not well away with. 1587 Holinshed Chron. III. 27/1 He..could well awaie with bodilie labour [1577 II. 334/2 could well endure trauaile and bodily labour]. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 14. (1619) 532 They can well away with either religion, but care greatly for neither. 1622 Gataker Spirituall Watch (ed. 2) 70 It is no small degree of euill, when a man can well away with euill in others. a 1629 Hinde J. Bruen xxxvii. (1641) 116 This Master Done being young and youthly,..could not well away with the strict observation of the Lords day. |
b. To bear or submit to (do something).
| 1579–80 North Plutarch, Alcib. (1595) 234 Notwithstanding the people of Athens could well away to liue like subiects vnder the gouernement of a fewe. |