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Weal vs Woeful - What's the difference?

weal | woeful |

As a noun weal

is (obsolete) wealth, riches or weal can be a raised, longitudinal wound, usually purple, on the surface of flesh caused by stroke of rod or whip; a welt.

As a verb weal

is to mark with stripes; to wale.

As an adjective woeful is

full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity.

weal

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) Wealth, riches.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • as we love the weal of our souls and bodies
  • * Milton
    • to him linked in weal or woe
  • Specifically, the general happiness of a community, country etc. (often with qualifying word).
  • * Macaulay
    • Never was there a time when it more concerned the public weal that the character of the Parliament should stand high.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1960 , author= , title=(Jeeves in the Offing) , section=chapter IV , passage=The austerity of my tone seemed to touch a nerve and kindle the fire that always slept in this vermilion-headed menace to the common weal [...].}}
  • * 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, p. 372:
    • Louis could aim to restyle himself the first among citizens, viewing virtuous attachment to the public weal as his most important kingly duty.

    Derived terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l)
    Related terms
    * in weal or woe

    Etymology 2

    See wale

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a raised, longitudinal wound, usually purple, on the surface of flesh caused by stroke of rod or whip; a welt.
    • Synonyms
    * wheal

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To mark with stripes; to wale.

    • Anagrams

    * English terms with homophones

    woeful

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity.
    • How many woeful widows left to bow / To sad disgrace! — Daniel.
  • Bringing calamity, distress, or affliction.
    • a woeful event
    a woeful lack of restraint
  • wretched; paltry; poor
    • What woeful stuff this madrigal would be! — Pope.

    Synonyms

    * See also