[f. prec. or next. Cf. Du. welkom, G. willkomm, MHG. willekum.]
1. An assurance to a visitor or stranger that he or she is welcome; a pleasant or hearty greeting or reception given to a person on arrival at a house or other place.
To outstay, or overstay, one’s welcome: see the vbs.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss. (1812), II. 433. She had neuer before ben at Parys, therfore the burgesses of Parys gaue her her welcome [Fr. Si luy deuoient les bourgeois de Paris sa bien venue].
1610. Shaks., Temp., V. i. 111. And to thee, and thy Company, I bid A hearty welcome. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. iv. 560. Me thinkes I see Leontes opening his free Armes, and weeping His welcomes forth.
1649. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wand. Wonders of West, 15. A house … where I tooke a welcome, a supper and a bed, till the next morning.
1703. Earl Orrery, As you find it, II. i. 20. I’ll promise you nothing but an English-Dinner, and an English-Welcome.
1757. Dyer, Fleece, I. 123. The little smiling cottage, where at eve He meets his rosy children at the door, Prattling their welcomes.
1814. Byron, Lara, I. vii. Warm was his welcome to the haunts of men.
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xiv. 242. That he was the friend beloved by Everard, was sufficient to insure him a welcome from Evelyn.
1847. Mary Howitt, Ballads, 144. Then the abbot he prayed them all be still, And let their welcomes wait.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 6. 145. The welcome of the townsmen made up … for the ill-will … of both clergy and monks.
b. transf. (esp. with adjs.) A greeting or reception of an unpleasant or unsatisfactory nature.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV. (1550), 39 b. But when they aproched the toune, the artillarie beganne to shote…. This welcome semed very straung to kyng Edward, ponderynge together yestardayes promise, and this dayes doynge.
c. 1600. T. Pont, Topogr. Acc. Cunningham (Maitl. Club), 10. Bot Vallace with a veill armed companey gifs them a very hote uelcome.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., I. xii. 73. The Invaders finding so ill a welcome, returned.
1725. P. Walkden, Diary (1866), 11. We … then went on to Mr. Jolly’s, where we met but with a cold welcome.
† c. A special award in a lottery, made to the persons first drawing lots or blanks on the opening day or on each of the subsequent days. Obs.
1567. (Aug.) Proclam. Gen. Lottery (Arch. Bodl. F. c. 11, fol. 108). The first person to whome any Lot shall happen, shal haue for his welcome … the value of fiftie poundes sterling. Ibid. The Second … shall haue … for his welcome … thirtie pounds.
1624. Capt. J. Smith, Virginia, IV. 118. Welcomes. To him that first shall be drawne out with a blanke, 100 Crownes. Ibid., 119. The prizes, welcomes, and rewards, shall be payed in ready Mony, Plate, or other goods.
2. Welcome home, entertainment provided to celebrate the return home of a person; also, expressions of greeting made at a person’s homecoming. Also transf.
1530. Tindale, Answ. More, IV. ii. Wks. (1572), 323/1. As when we call one that is new come home to breakfast and set a Capon before him and say, this is your welcome home.
1578. H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 296. She had good prouision of embracings, & wanton toyes, to feast him at his welcome home.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., VIII. vii. 776. Sylla of Carthage, upon my returne to Rome, after I had bene long absent, invited me to a supper for my welcome home.
1637. Rutherford, Lett. to J. Kennedy, Lett. (1664), 186. Our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of our first night’s welcome home to heaven.
1680. Lady Russell, Lett., 6 March (1807), 3. I am very earnest to hear,… how my brother is after his journey, and melancholy welcome home.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, ii. ‘I hope Madeleine has not forgotten my fire,’ murmured Miss Riddell, as she walked … down the Champs Elysées. ‘Such evenings as these one wants a welcome home.’
b. Sc. (See quots.)
1808. Jamieson, Welcome-haim, the repast presented to a bride, when she enters the house of a bridegroom.
1818. Edin. Mag., Nov., 415/1. On Monday evening, just about gloamin, the husbands and wives of the village assemble at the house of the newly-married couple, to celebrate the welcome hame, by a good drink and funny crack.
3. Hearty or hospitable reception of a stranger or guest.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., III. i. 26. Small cheere and great welcome, makes a merrie feast. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr., Ind. i. 103. Go sirra, take them to the Butterie, And giue them friendly welcome euerie one.
1641. Nicholas Papers (Camden), I. 39. It will much depend uppon what assurance of welcome we shall have from home in more then beare words.
1845. Lingard, Anglo-Saxon Ch., I. iii. 137. Edilwalch, king of Sussex, received him [Wilfrid] with welcome.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 387. A youth, that following with a costrel bore The means of goodly welcome, flesh and wine. Ibid. (1879), Falcon (1884), 105. And welcome turns a cottage to a palace.
4. A welcoming salute. Also attrib.
1615. R. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 63. The Duch envited the King of Firando abord their ship, and gave hym 3 pec. ordinance for a wellcom.
1808. Scott, Marm., I. ix. The gunner held his linstock yare, For welcome-shot prepar’d. Ibid., I. x. The cannon from the ramparts glanced, And thundering welcome gave.
† 5. Powder of welcome, a medicament for the eyes.
The origin is obscure: welcome is merely a rendering of the name used in the orig. L. of the quot. 1541, viz. pulvis benvenuti. Cf. Treasure of Poore Men (1540), 8 ‘Of pouder called Bonauenture.’
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Form., Y 1 b. Fyfthly is put the powdre of welcome, of myne owne makynge for all spottes of the eyes.
