ppl. a.
1. Favorably disposed, inclined to be favorable or friendly (to or towards a person or thing); spec., well-disposed towards existing authority, loyal.
1563–83. Foxe, A. & M., 150/2. If any good men were well affected or minded toward religion.
1609. R. I., Nova Britannia, title-p., Nova Britannia: Offering most Excellent fruites by Planting in Virginia. Exciting all such as be well affected to further the same.
1611. Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit., To Rdr. To the well-affected and favourable Reader.
1664. D. Fleming in Extr. St. Papers Friends, III. (1912), 213. Hee Lives in a very well affected Towne, both to the church and State.
1671. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 502. The Presbyterian … party … never were well-affected to a French alliance.
1746. Bp. Sherlock, Lett., 10 June, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 291. The well-affected Clans.
1832. Lytton, Eugene Aram, I. ix. I know you are an honest man, Bunting, and well affected to our family.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 359. Sicily … was unlikely to give her further trouble, and that, not because she was well-affected, but simply because she was exhausted.
absol. 1643. [Angier], Lanc. Vall. Achor, 10. Whilest the Siege lasted against Manchester, the heavens held a simpathy with the well-affected.
1658. Dom. State Papers, 360. The petition of the well-affected of Gateshead.
1779. Arnot, Hist. Edin., I. vi. 206. It had been a common practice of government, to screen the well-affected from the punishment of their murders.
2. Adroitly assumed or simulated.
1907. National Church, 15 Oct., 277/1. By this process in matters of religion the state will have washed its hands of any responsibility for the moral character of its citizens—a Gallio in its well-affected impartiality of indifference.
