What does "weal" mean?

Weal: A sound, healthy, or prosperous state of a person or thing; prosperity; happiness; welfare. God . . . grant you wele and prosperity. Chaucer. As we love the weal of our souls and bodies. Bacon. To him linked in weal or woe. Milton. Never was there a time when it more concerned the public weal that the character of the Parliament should stand high. Macaulay.

Additional senses

  1. 2.The body politic; the state; common wealth. [Obs.] The special watchmen of our English weal. Shak.
  2. 3.To promote the weal of; to cause to be prosperous. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

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