weal

¹

[weel]

noun

1. well-being, prosperity, or happiness.

   the public weal;

   weal and woe.

2. Obsolete.,  wealth or riches.

3. Obsolete.,  the body politic; the state.

weal

²

[weel]

noun

1. wheal.

weal

¹

/ wiːl /

noun

1. archaic,  prosperity or wellbeing (now esp in the phrases the public weal, the common weal )

2. obsolete,  the state

3. obsolete,  wealth

weal

²

/ wiːl /

noun

1. Also called: wale.  welt.  wheal. a raised mark on the surface of the body produced by a blow

Word History and Origins

Origin of weal¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English wele, Old English wela; akin to well ¹

Origin of weal²

Variant of wale ¹, with ea of wheal

Word History and Origins

Origin of weal¹

Old English wela; related to Old Saxon welo, Old High German wolo

Origin of weal²

C19: variant of _wale ¹ , influenced in form by _wheal

Example Sentences

The cash bail lobby loves to portray itself as sort of a cottage industry of mom ‘n’ pop operations devoted to serving the public weal, but that’s false.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet he did make one enduring contribution to the public weal, if unintentionally.

From Washington Post

As a result of its big-picture status as a niche industry, sports’ impact on the public weal is modest, except to entertain those who find joy in it.

From Washington Post

By diverting investment towards repairing landscapes and contributing to the public weal, rewilders are taking money away from conventional economic activities.

From The Guardian

Like a miniature mountain range, large reddish weals upheaved across the white flesh of her wrists.

From Literature