† wellmostadv.
Obsolete.
Almost, well-nigh.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb] > almost or nearly
nigheOE
well-nigheOE
forneanc1000
well-nearc1175
almostc1261
nighwhatc1300
nearhandc1350
nigh handa1375
nigh handsa1375
as good asc1390
into (right) littlea1413
unto litea1420
nigh byc1430
nearbyc1485
near handsa1500
as near as1517
mosta1538
next door1542
wellmost1548
all but1590
anewst1590
uneath1590
next to1611
nearlya1616
thereaboutsa1616
welly1615
thereabout1664
within (an) ames-ace ofa1670
anear1675
pretty much1682
three parts1711
newsta1728
only not1779
partly1781
in all but name1824
just about1836
nentes1854
near1855
nar1859
just1860
not-quite1870
nearabouta1878
effectively1884
nigh on1887
the world > relative properties > quantity > approximate quantity or amount > [adverb] > nearly (of amount)
well-nigheOE
nighOE
well-nearc1175
almostc1261
nighwhatc1300
nara1400
neara1400
anighsta1425
muchwhata1513
wellmost1548
most1629
nighly1694
nearly1769
partly1781
mostly1805
most1808
mostlings1816
about1827
nearabouts1834
fairly1840
welly1859
approaching1951
1548 R. Crowley Informacion & Peticion sig. Bi At the vacation of his Copie or Indentur, he must paye welmoste as muche as woulde purchayse so much grownde.
1550 R. Crowley One & Thyrtye Epigrammes sig. Biiv They had boeth sore legges..Al rawe from the fote welmost to the knee.
1619 W. Sclater Expos. 1 Thess. To Rdr. Which hath made me welmost a meere Peripateticke in my studies.
1622 R. Harris Serm. To Rdr. Our vnthankfulnes and vnfruitfulnes hath welmost vndone vs.
1640 H. Rohan Treat. Interest Princes & States Christendome. vi. 113 The Emperour..sendeth his best troupes into Italie against the Duke of Mantua, which welmost all perished there.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adv.1548