Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WELL, a. [Sax. wel or well; G. wohl; D. wel; Sw. väl, Dan. vel; W. gwell, better; gwella, to make better, to mend, to improve; Arm. guellaat; L. valeo, to be strong Gr. ολος, whole, and ουλω, to be well; Sans. bala, bali, strength. The primary sense of valeo is to strain, stretch, whence to advance, to prevail, to gain, according to our vulgar phrase, to get ahead, which coincides with prosper, Gr. προσφερω. I do not find well used in other languages as an adjective, but it is so used in English. See Weal.]

1. Being in health; having a sound body, with a regular performance of the natural and proper functions of all the organs; applied to animals; as, a well man; the patient has recovered, and is perfectly well. While you are well, you may do much good. – Taylor. Is your father well? – Gen. xliii.
2. Fortunate; convenient; advantageous; happy. It well for us that we are sequestered so far from the rest of the world. It was well with us in Egypt. – Numb. xi.
3. Being in favor. He was well with Henry the Fourth. – Dryden.