Idioms for well
Origin of well
1
before 900; Middle English, Old English
wel(l) (adj. and adv.); cognate with Dutch
wel, German
wohl, Old Norse
vel, Gothic
waila
grammar notes for well
Sometimes an adverb like
well is so often placed in front of and combined with a certain past participle in order to modify it that the resulting adjectival combination achieves the status of a common word and is listed in dictionaries. In Dictionary.com you will find, for example, entries for
well-advised and
well-mannered; for
ill-advised, ill-bred, and
ill-conceived; and for
half-baked and
half-cocked. Some of these terms are given full definitions, while others are considered such obvious combinations that you can figure out for yourself what they must mean. It is important to note, however, that compound adjectives like these are hyphenated for use
before the noun they modify together. Thus we say that someone is “a well-loved professor,” but there would be no hyphen between
well and
loved in a sentence like “My English professor is well loved and deserves the award.”
In a similar manner, adjectival compounds formed with better, best, little, lesser, least, etc., are also hyphenated when placed before the noun ( a little-understood theory ), but the hyphen is dropped when the adjectival combination follows the noun ( his films are best known in England ) or is itself modified by an adverb ( a too little understood theory ).
There are exceptions to this pattern. For example, when the combining adverb ends in –ly, no hyphen is required, whether the resulting adjectival combination appears before or after the noun: a highly regarded surgeon; a surgeon who is highly regarded.
Don’t let the hyphens fool you. Punctuation can be tricky!
In a similar manner, adjectival compounds formed with better, best, little, lesser, least, etc., are also hyphenated when placed before the noun ( a little-understood theory ), but the hyphen is dropped when the adjectival combination follows the noun ( his films are best known in England ) or is itself modified by an adverb ( a too little understood theory ).
There are exceptions to this pattern. For example, when the combining adverb ends in –ly, no hyphen is required, whether the resulting adjectival combination appears before or after the noun: a highly regarded surgeon; a surgeon who is highly regarded.
Don’t let the hyphens fool you. Punctuation can be tricky!
usage note for well
See
good.
Words nearby well
British Dictionary definitions for as well (1 of 2)
Word Origin for well
Old English
wel; related to Old High German
wala, wola (German
wohl), Old Norse
val, Gothic
waila
British Dictionary definitions for as well (2 of 2)
well
2
/ (wɛl) /
noun
verb
to flow or cause to flow upwards or outwards
tears welled from her eyes
Word Origin for well
Old English
wella; related to Old High German
wella (German
Welle wave), Old Norse
vella boiling heat
Scientific definitions for as well
well
[ wĕl ]
A deep hole or shaft sunk into the Earth to tap a liquid or gaseous substance such as water, oil, gas, or brine. If the substance is not under sufficient pressure to flow freely from the well, it must be pumped or raised mechanically to the surface. Water or pressurized gas is sometimes pumped into a nonproducing oil well to push petroleum resources out of underground reservoirs. See also artesian well.
Idioms and Phrases with as well (1 of 2)
as well
In addition, besides, also. For example, Mary is going to Italy and to France as well, or A fine conductor, he plays the violin as well. [1300s]
With an equal or similar result, as in Since he can't get there in time, he might as well stay at home, or It's just as well that you came today, since Harry is here, too. [1400s]
Idioms and Phrases with as well (2 of 2)
well