Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WELL, adv.

1. In a proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly. – James. If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. – Gen. iv.
2. Skillfully; with due art; as, the work is well done; he writes well; he rides well; the plot is well laid, and well executed.
3. Sufficiently; abundantly. Lot … beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where. – Gen. xiii.
4. Very much; to a degree that gives pleasure. I liked the entertainment well.
5. Favorably; with praise. All the world speaks well of you. – Pope.
6. Conveniently; suitably; advantageously. This is all the mind can well contain. I can not well attend the meeting.
7. To a sufficient decree; perfectly. I know not well how to execute this task.
8. Thoroughly; fully. Let the cloth be well cleansed. Let the steel be well polished. She looketh well to the ways of her household. – Prov. xxx.
9. Fully; adequately. We are well able to overcome it. – Numb. xiii.
10. Far; as, to be well advanced in life. As well as, together with; not less than; one as much as the other; as, a sickness long as well as severe. London is the largest city in Europe, as well as the principal banking city. Well enough, in a moderate degree; so as to give satisfaction or so as to require no alteration. Well is him, seems to be elliptical for well is to him. To be well of, to be in a good condition, especially as to property. Well is sometimes used elliptically for it is well, and as a expression of satisfaction with what has been said or done and sometimes it is merely expletive. Well, the work done. Well, let us go. Well, well, be it so. Well is prefixed to many words, expressing what is right, laudable, or not defective; as, well-affected; well-designed; well-directed; well-ordered; well-formed; well-meant; well-minded; well-seasoned; well-tasted.