well-wish

English

Alternative forms

• wellwish

Etymology

Back-formation from well-wisher.

Noun

well-wish (plural well-wishes)

1. (usually in the plural) An expression of positive regard and hopes for good fortune.
   • 1995, Richard Powers, Galatea 2.2, New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, →ISBN, page 245:

     He greeted me always, the epitome of cheer, with some gnomic well-wish that half the time I could not make out.

   • 2012, Tanya Michaels, Mistletoe Hero, →ISBN:

     “Patrick Flannery?” Lilah grinned. “He is cute. Maybe you should take him some soup and well-wishes.”

   • 2015, Robert A. Neimeyer, Techniques of Grief Therapy: Assessment and Intervention, →ISBN:

     Select someone to whom you can at least pretend to send well-wishes.

   • 2016, Natalia Hatton, Growth in the Wilderness, →ISBN:

     Over the years there have been many well-wishes as a New Year dawns, certainties that this would be the year for our miracles.

Verb

well-wish (third-person singular simple present well-wishes, present participle well-wishing, simple past and past participle well-wished)

1. To express well-wishes; to wish someone well.
   • 2011, Nicole Conn, Elena Undone, →ISBN:

     She kept an eye on Nash as he shoved his hands deep into his pockets, as Barry well-wished other congregants outside the doors of the church.

   • 2013, Dennis Wheatley, The Satanist, →ISBN:

     Then you are welcomed and well-wished by all present and ceremony is concluded.

   • 2015, Calvin E. Sturdivant, A Railroad Ran Through It, →ISBN:

     We shook hands and well-wished.

Anagrams

• wish well