wealy

From Middle English wely, from Old English weliġ, weoliġ, weleġ, from Proto-West Germanic *welag (“wealthy”), equivalent to weal +‎ -y. Cognate with Dutch welig (“luxurious, lavish”), Low German welig (“happy, fortunate”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈwiːli/

wealy (comparative more wealy, superlative most wealy)

1. (obsolete) Wealthy, strong, vigorous; displaying power or strength.
   • 1534, George Ioye [i.e., George Joye], “Psal. 73: The ſonge of Aſaph”, in Dauids Pſalter, Diligently and Faithfully Trãſlated by George Ioye, with Breif Arguments before Euery Pſalme, Declaringe the Effecte Therof‎, Antwerp: Maryne Emperowr, page 109a:

     So that for their wealy riches they be geuen vnto al luſtes / and folowe the deſyers off their owne hertis.

   • 1660, James Hovvell [i.e., James Howell], “Section xxj. The Degrees or differences of Age and Perſons”, in Lexicon Tetraglotton, an English–French–Italian–Spanish Dictionary: […], Printed by J[ohn] G[rismond] for Samuel Thomson […], →OCLC, page 322:

     A nimble, active, or wealy man; Forte, gagliardo, robuſto; Forte, robuſte; Fuerte, rezio.

   • 1914 May, C. C. Apple, “Correspondences”, in The Journeyman Barber‎, volume 10, number 4, Indianapolis, page 180:

     To look at him, some might take Mr. Gardner to be a banker, but he is only a barber; and Nini might be taken for a wealy dude, but he is another — .