| 释义 |
ˈwell-ˈwiller Now rare.
[See willer 1 and cf. goodwiller.]
One who bears good will or wishes well (to another, to a cause, etc.); one who is disposed to be kind or friendly.
In very frequent use from 1450 to 1700. Since then largely superseded by well-wisher.
1448Paston Lett. I. 69 All hys mene, and all that ben hys wele wyllers. 1470–85Malory Arthur x. xxxi. 465 Wherfore he thoughte to slee hym and alle his wel wyllars in that countrey. 1581G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. (1586) ii. 78 Those with whome we are conuersant, being rather well-willers, than true friendes. 1583Babington Commandm. (1590) 121 Is the diuell our friende or our foe, our welwiller or our enemie? a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. x. (1912) I. 209 No man durst shew himself a wel-willer of mine. 1604T. Wright Passions v. iv. 242 We may have many well-willers, but very few speciall friends: well-willers be generall friends. 1659Nicholas Papers (Camden) IV. 148, I feare our inland friends will not be sufficyent, vnlesse our well-willers abroade clubb to y⊇ reckoninge. 1748Richardson Clarissa VI. 61 Every body and every-thing had a black and a white side, as ill-willers and well-willers were pleased to report. 1826Hor. Smith Tor Hill (1838) II. 101 Evil befall the foul fiend and all his well-willers. 1875Morris æneids vi. 280 And those Well-willers' iron beds [ferreique Eumenidum thalami]. 1908Hardy Dynasts iii. After Scene 351 The Well-willer, the kindly Might That balances the Vast for weal.
b. Const. of, to (unto, Sc. till).
1463Irish Acts 3 Edw. IV c. 68 Gouuernyng..by theim that ben welwillers to the Kyng. c1477Caxton Jason 78 b, Som of the welwillars of the king appollo. a1568R. Ascham Scholem. i. (Arb.) 82 They..scornefullie mocke his worde, and also spitefullie hate and hurte all well willers thereof. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxii. §14 If now the Communion booke make for them too..it may be hoped that being found such a welwiller vnto their cause, they will more fauour it then they haue done. 1634Peacham Compl. Gentl. v. (1906) 38 Give mee leave..as a well-willer unto you and your studies, to beare you company part of the way. 1638Junius Paint. Ancients 67 Lovers and Well-willers of Art. 1698F. B. Free but Modest Censure 4 A friend and well-willer to that Cause. 1871W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxvi. 253 Ye ken brawly that I never was a weel-wuller till gyaun awa' fae the Pairis' Kirk. 1874Swinburne Bothw. i. i. (1882) 6 Men Who are well-willers to this common state.
†c. One who is addicted or devoted to a study (esp. astrology). Obs.
1634Heywood & Brome Lanc. Witches v. L 2, Though he be no witch, he is a wel-willer to the infernal science. 1653W. Ramesey Astrol. Restored 18 For the satisfaction of the well-willers to Astrology. 1654Cleveland Char. Diurnal-maker 5 He is the first tincture and rudiment of a Writer, dip't as yet in the preparative blew, like an Almanack well-willer. 1664Butler Hud. ii. iii. 240 [He] with the Moon was more familiar Than e'er was Almanack well willer. 1668Dryden Dram. Poesy 4 One that is so much a well-willer to the Satire, that he spares no man. 1671Blagrave Astrol. Pract. Physick 188 To all such who are Students, and well-Willers unto this most excellent Science of Astrology. a1680Butler Rem. (1759) II. 185 A Virtuoso is a Well-willer to the Mathematics. 1686Goad Celest. Bodies ii. vii. 245 To us Well-Willers nothing can be plainer, than that Comets are Flammeous, or Lucid Expirations. |