Now rare. [f. WEALTHY a. + -NESS.] Wealthy quality or condition; wealth.

1

a. 1513.  Fabyan, Chron., III. lvi. (1533), 20. This in tracte of tyme made hym welthy. And by meane of this welthynes ensued pryde.

2

1535.  Coverdale, Job xxi. 13. They spend their dayes in welthynesse: but sodenly they go downe to hell.

3

1536.  Primer Eng. & Lat. (Rouen), 144 b. Verely I sayde in my welthynes I shall neuermore be mouyd.

4

1567.  Trial Treasure, D iv b. You shall wante no kinde of welthines.

5

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 7, marg. The Welthines of fische in Scotland.

6

1747.  Shenstone, Lett. to Graves, 21 Sept. I almost hate the idea of wealthiness as much as the word.

7