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Weal has, since the dawn of English, referred to well-being. It’s most often used in the phrase “common weal” to refer to the general good—that is, to the happiness, health, and safety of everyone in a community or nation. A closed form of this phrase, commonweal, has since the 14th century carried the same meaning, but it once also referred to an organized political entity, such as a nation or state. This job (among others) is now done by the word’s close relation, commonwealth. At one time, weal and wealth were synonyms; both meant “riches” (as in “all their worldly weal”) and “well-being.” Both words stem from wela, the Old English word for “well-being,” and are closely related to the Old English word for “well.” An unrelated word weal is a synonym of welt in its painful application.
Synonyms
Examples of weal in a Sentence
Jon D. Michaels, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
When economic distress reaches a certain point, the individual citizen no longer uses his political power to serve the public weal, but only to help himself.
—Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011
Some people develop pin-sized, raised bumps (weals) when sweating—this condition is called cholinergic urticaria.
—Jennifer Sabour, Health, 10 May 2024
Today’s Rwanda is based on the deceptively simple premise that common work makes common weal.
—Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
These and scores of other crimes against the public weal are carelessly grouped under this or that vague heading—libertarian prerogative, consumer sovereignty, anti-wokism, what have you—and enshrined as yet another instance of the way things have to be.
—Chris Lehmann, The New Republic, 30 Sep. 2021
Evince an old-fashioned interest in the public weal?
—Peggy Noonan, WSJ, 1 Dec. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near weal
Cite this Entry
“Weal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weal. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
weal
1 of 2 nounweal
2 of 2 nounNoun
Old English wela "healthy state"
Noun
an altered form of wale "a streak or ridge made on the skin from a blow"
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