wealthy English · revision 6756

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1375}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwɛl.θi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English welthi, formed from [[wealth]] and [[-y]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Possessing well-being, happy, prosperous: about 1375 in the OED, about 1400 in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense, happy and comfortable, followed wealth's old meaning of well-being, and it lasted to the mid-16th century.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989) Of persons, rich, it is from before 1430,^(OED 1989) the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and of countries, prosperous, from about 1460.^(OED 1989) The figurative ''rich in some advantage'' is from 1601.^(OED 1989) In dialect, of cattle, well-fed is from 1829.^(OED 1989) Earlier words were weleful, prosperous (about 1200), and wealthful (early 14th century).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – happy, prosperous.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1430 – rich.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1460 – of a country, flourishing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – rich in some advantage.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having much money or property; [[rich]], [[affluent]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Plentifully supplied: ''wealthy in friends''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(the wealthy)'' Rich people as a group.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wealthily]]

+ * [[wealthiness]]

+ * [[overwealthy]]

+ * [[superwealthy]]

+ * [[unwealthy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wealth]]

+ * [[weal]]

+ * [[well]]

+ * [[commonwealth]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}