A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wele willar, Weil(l)willar, -er, n. Also: weilwillare, weillwillair, veill viller, ueiluillyr, wel(l)willar, -er, weell-willer, ueale uiller. [Late ME and e.m.E. wele wyller (1448), wel wyllar (1470-85), well willer (a1568); Willair n. Cf. Gud(e) willar n.] A well wisher or supporter. Also const. to a person, cause, etc.(1) 1456 Hay I 219/10.
The king of Ingland, he and his wele willaris with him 1525 Prot. Bk. J. Foular II 183.
The saidis Thomas his kyn freyndis and weillwillaris 1528 Douglas Corr. 126.
Weilwillare 1559 Misc. Maitl. C. I 260.
Ueiluillyrs 1575 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS App. 419/1.
I man charge you my special freindis and weill willaris … to accompanye me 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 106.
Our maist faithfull counsallour and weilwillaris hes thocht the samyn maist necessar to be done 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 282.
His faithfull subjectis and approvit weilwillaris 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 42.
Weillwillair a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 36.
Weill willers 1606 Melvill 669.
Wel-willeres 1608 Edinb. Test. XLIV 161b.
The said Johnne … at the sycht of his freindis and weilwillares … he leuis to [etc.] 1609 Crim. Trials II 282.
Some vtheris his lordschipis freindis veill villeris c1610 Melville Mem. 108.
Our Quen was aduertist thereof, be some of hir weill willairs in England 1611 Crim. Trials III 167.
Welwillaris 1612 Crim. Trials III 240.
Weill-willeris 1612 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 300.
Speciall weil willar off our College 1619 Bk. Islay 367.
That he had no uther designe … bot onlie as weill willer of youris to move yow to drawe in Inglische men to Illa both for the fisching and leid myneis thair 1625 Justiciary Cases I 24.
Weil willeris a1634 Forbes Rec. 551.
Wellwillers 1639 Baillie I 170.
Weell-willers 1650 Blairs P. 32.
Ueale uiller(2) 1546 St. P. Henry VIII IV ii 576.
The personis … wes and had bene at all tymes his freyndis, weilwillaris to the contract of mariage 1570 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 651/2.
I did nathing but … as ane faythfull seruand to the defunct, and ane well willar to his barnis 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 396.
Ernist and affectionat weilwillaris to the avancement 1617 Aberd. B. Rec. II 354.
To remayne a freynd and weill willar baith to the toune, and to the said Mr. Willeame 1611-57 Mure Psalmes Title 53.
Some psalmes translated … by a weilwiller to the work of reformatioun
