weal

1. obsoleteuncountableWealth, riches.First known use 10th–19th c.
2. literaryuncountableWelfare, prosperity.First known use 10th c.

   For whom all this was made, all this will ſoon / Follow, as to him linkt in weal or woe, [...]

   1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 132–133

   3 more examples

   Therefore for Gods loue, and as we loue the weale of our Soules and Bodies, let us ſo behaue our ſelues, as we may be at peace with God, and may finde grace in the Eyes of this People.

   1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 7

   "Travel shall I and woo; Plight me shall I a flower; Try shall I my sword so good, To my weal or my woe in the stour."

   1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 170

   It seemed so plain that if the workman had his master’s profit at heart, and the master were as anxious for the weal of his men, the interests of the two would be one.

   1919, Stanley J. Weyman, “XIII. Peter Pauper”, in The Great House

3. broadlyuncountableBoon, benefit.

   And indeed I blamed myself and sore repented me of having taken compassion on him and continued in this condition, suffering fatigue not to be described, till I said to myself, "I wrought him a weal and he requited me with my ill; by Allah, never more will I do any man a service so long as I live!"

   1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 557

4. uncountableSpecifically, the general happiness of a community, country etc. (often with qualifying word).First known use 15th c.

   Yet never was there a time when it more concerned the public weal, that the character of the parliament should stand high.

   1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter IV, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 515

   2 more examples

   The austerity of my tone seemed to touch a nerve and kindle the fire that always slept in this vermilion-headed menace to the common weal [...]

   1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter IV, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC

   Louis could aim to restyle himself the first among citizens, viewing virtuous attachment to the public weal as his most important kingly duty.

   2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 372

plural weals

1. A raised, longitudinal wound, usually purple, on the surface of flesh caused by a stroke of a rod or whip; a welt.

   He had been slashed sixteen times by mighty boars, and his legs had white weals of shiny flesh that stretched right up to his ribs.

   1958, T. H. White, chapter 16, in The Once and Future King, London: Collins, published 1959

   3 more examples

   [A]lthough a few [slaves] live comfortably at Paramaribo, the greateſt number are wretched, particularly thoſe governed by a lady, who have many weals to ſhow, but not the ſmallest indulgence to boaſt of.

   1796, J[ohn] G[abriel] Stedman, chapter XII, in Narrative of a Five Years’ Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana, on the Wild Coast of South America; […], volume I, London: J[oseph] Johnson, […], and J. Edwards, […], →OCLC, page 296

   He turned as I struck him and fired full into my face, and the bullet left a weal across my cheek which will mark me to my dying day.

   1892, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “[The Great Shadow] The End of the Storm”, in The Great Shadow and Beyond the City, Bristol: J. W. Arrowsmith, […]; London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., →OCLC, pages 140–141

   And I saw the green island in the immense sea, the borders of the sea curling with a lining of light, like a vast piece of rice paper, its edges alive with weals of red embers, ready to burst into flame.

   2007, Tan Twan Eng, The Gift of Rain, New York: Weinstein Books, Book Two, Chapter Twenty-One, p. 422

   Synonyms: wheal

present singular third person weals · participle present wealing · participle past wealed · past wealed

1. To mark with stripes; to wale.