Meaning of well-wisher | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Someone who extends good wishes, or expresses sympathy, to someone else.
2. Someone who makes a wish at a wishing well.
   nonce-word, rare
3. Followed by to: someone who has an ambition to be or become something.
   obsolete, rare

Equivalents

Examples

“[T]hose honest gentlemen that are always exposed to the wit and raillery of their well-wishers and companions; that are pelted by men, women, and children, friends and foes, and in a word, stand⟳ as butts in conversation, for every one to shoot⟳ at that pleases.”

“[T]he actual traytor or rebel is guilty of perjury in the eye of the lavv; the ſecret promoter, or vvell-vviſher of the cauſe, is ſo before the Tribunal of conſcience.”

“Nor did he ſeem to have⟳ made an unreaſonable reply⟳ to them both, and it vvas eaſy for a ſpeech to be received favorably amongſt vvellvviſhers.”

“[G]ive me the hopes of my dear girl's approaching felicity, equal to the deſires of / Her ſincereſt VVellvviſher, / LAVINIA RAWLINS.”

“She had still, however, her friends and well-wishers, many of whom thought, that as she was a lone woman, and known to be well to pass⟳ in the world, she would act wisely to retire⟳ from public life, and take⟳ down a sign⟳ which had no longer fascination for guests.”

“"You see⟳ before you," she said, with choking utterance, "one who, fallen and degraded as she is, would still venture to hope⟳ that she has a friend, at least a wellwisher, in Mr Thornton. If I am mistaken in this, alas! I am friendless."”

“"[…] [I]t would be a nice opportunity for any of his well-wishers to pay⟳ him a visit⟳, if they knew how straight the path was made before them." / "I am none of his well-wishers, sir: I don't care for him."”

“Already a J72 0-6-0T has been promised by a well-wisher and will be re-painted in North Eastern Railway livery.”

“I'm a well-wisher, in that I don't wish⟳ you any specific harm⟳.”

“At each stopping place⟳ I stepped out of the train⟳ to chat to well-wishers.”

“I never saw⟳ your chancellor, nor his chaplain. The latter has a good deal⟳ of learning, and is a well wisher to be an author: your chancellor is an excellent man.”

“They strolled on and passed a smiling man standing by the Village wishing well. "Well," said the well-wisher. Ah … must be the Village idiot.”

“"I'll put⟳ a removable lid on it [a wishing well]," he assured her. "That way, it'll be safe for the nippers, but accessible to, um, well wishers. Have⟳ a wish⟳ in mind⟳, Bree?"”

“Maybe I am a wishing well, / I have⟳ regular well-wishers / Throwing me a coin. / Only change⟳ they throw⟳ me / Because they don't expect⟳ to see⟳ / Any change⟳ back.”

CEFR level