I wish somebody would compile a dictionary that explains how and why a word takes on a different usage in language and a different meaning

e.g. well - noun - a hole in the ground

well - adverb - a state of health

well as in "well?" what does that mean ?

as in well hard, well weird, where the eck does that come from?
-- po, Sep 23 2001

Word Origins http://www.wordorigins.org/home.htm
Doesn't have 'well' but has a lot of other stuff.. [StarChaser, Sep 23 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

A dictionary of slang. http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/
UK version. well, Adv. A general intensifier, very, extremely, definitely. E.g., "I'm well upset about United losing in the cup." (Doesn't give an etymology, though, but that's well 'ard.) [jutta, Sep 23 2001]

etymology search engine http://www.halfbake...y_20search_20engine
I'd settle for this. [jutta, Sep 23 2001]

god, you didn't have to put up with TFI Friday in Oz did you - was no-one safe?
-- po, Sep 23 2001


I thought po meant a dictionary with made-up etymologies, like--

well: from the Old Welsh llwllwl, meaning 'petroleum jelly', through New Icelandic lwool meaning 'oil pit', Olde Cockney woofl meaning 'greasy bugger' thence to English as well: a hole in the ground. Quotation: "Well, well, well." --Winston Churchill (attrib)
-- Dog Ed, Sep 23 2001, last modified Sep 24 2001


The good Mr. Bierce specialized in definitions, not etymology. But yeah it's six of a dozen and half of another.
-- Dog Ed, Sep 24 2001


Jutta and UnaBubba - I probably was not very lucid in my explanation. I wanted a dictionary which gave me the origins of new usages of words - as in well hard

I suppose it is the etymology of slang
-- po, Sep 26 2001


Ah! Now I get it. I'd never heard that usage of "well" to mean "very", and thus understood neither your title nor most of your text.
-- jutta, Sep 26 2001


it's me Jutta - long day at the office
-- po, Sep 26 2001


Nigel Rees may well be a halfbaker as "A Word in your Shell Like" pretty much is this book. (It was published in 2004 so I'm not saying the dreaded B word). I love this book very much so +.
-- stilgar, Nov 26 2006



random, halfbakery