well(-)diˈsposed, ppl. a.
† 1. In good physical condition, healthy. Obs.
| c 1386 [see disposed 2]. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xli. (1495) 157 Yf these [organs] ben in good state and yf they ben hoole and well dysposed, the beest is al hoole. 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 247, I shall you say shortely What thynges makyth the body fat, moiste, and well dysposid. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxix. §4 Such a full and evident perception as it [the mind] does receive from an outward object operating duly on a well-disposed organ. a 1716 South Serm. (1842) III. 475 An healthful body and a sound mind, vigorous faculties and well-disposed organs. |
† b. Of reason: ? Sound, sane.
Obs.| c 1449 Pecock Repr. ii. iii. 148 Wherfore no doom of weel disposid resoun reproueth and weerneth the seid hauyng and vsing of ymagis in the chirche. |
† c. Of the weather: ? Temperate, fair.
Obs.| c 1477 Caxton Jason 54 b, The fayr sonne shone clere..and the weder was softe and well disposed. |
2. Suitably or skilfully placed, arranged, or adjusted.
| c 1470 Ashby Active Policy 307 Be ye rather clept an executer Of wisdam..Than to be proclamed a wise speker,..Of bothe, weldisposed, fame shal arise. 1576 R. Peterson G. della Casa's Galateo 71 Long and continued talke: which would be well disposed, wel vttered & very wel set forth. 1725 Bradley's Family Dict. s.v. Vine, To plant an Acre of such Ground with Vines, in some well-disposed place on the declivity of an Hill. 1748 W. Melmoth Fitzosborne Lett. lxi. (1749) II. 116 The grace and harmony of well-disposed lights and shades. |
3. Of a good disposition;
esp. disposed to be friendly or favourable, well-affected.
| 1455 Rolls of Parlt. V. 325/1 Every wele disposed persone of yis lande. 1456 Paston Lett. I. 392 The Comons of Kent..er not all weel disposid. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 15 b, An honeste or weldisposed manne. 1570 E. Elviden New Yr.'s Gift (Huth 1875) B ij, Though the wicked syer Shoulde seeme for to prouoke His well disposed sonne to yll. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. xvii. (1912) 259 A certain sparke of honour, which rose in her well-disposed minde, made her feare to be alone with him, with whom alone she desired to be. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, ii. i. 206 You loose a thousand well-disposed hearts. 1622 Wither Faire-Virtue K 4 b, Should my heart be grieud..Cause I see a Woman kind? Or a well disposed Nature, Ioyned with a louely Feature? 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 286, I was in a humour so well disposed that I accepted very willingly. 1665 Boyle Excell. Theol. (1674) 139 Studious and well-dispos'd Readers may certainly understand such [truths] as are necessary for them to believe. 1709 Shaftesbury Charac. (1711) II. 74 While he..stands so well-dispos'd towards the Laws and Government of his higher Country. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. i. ii, The charity of well disposed people..supplies him with the whole fund of his subsistence. 1815 Scott Guy M. lii, An obliging, well-disposed, and civil neighbour of mine. 1856 N. Brit. Rev. XXVI. 95 The Government should have done their best to secure a well-disposed House. |
| absol. 1659 South Serm. (1679) 72 The Unprepossessed on the one hand, and the well disposed on the other. 1861 Brougham Brit. Const. xv. 235 The indolence and timidity of the well-disposed enabled the enemies of the people to prevail. |
Hence
well-diˈsposedness.
rare.
| 1621 Bp. Hall Heaven upon Earth §10 By a well-disposednesse of mind, we may correct the iniquity of all hard euents. |