| 释义 |
holy well
[See well n. A combined form, as in holiday, is represented in the proper names Holywell, Hollywell (ˈhɒlɪwɛl), Halliwell.]
A well or spring reputed to possess miraculous healing properties, as being a channel of divine influence.
854Charter in Kemble Cod. Dipl. V. 100 Ðonne upp on Beaddingbroc on halᵹan welle. 1672Petty Pol. Anat. 364 They [the Irish] have a great opinion of holy-well's, rocks, and caves. 1793in Archæol. XI. 127 The bath near one end of the church of East Dereham in Norfolk..was more likely to have been a holy well. 1846R. Hart Eccl. Rec. (ed. 2) 224 Holy wells are occasionally found in churchyards. 1871Tylor Prim. Cult. II. 195 Cornish-folk still drop into the old holy wells offerings of pins, nails, and rags. |