ppl. a.
† 1. In good physical condition, healthy. Obs.
c. 1386. [see DISPOSED 2].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xli. (1495), 157. Yf these [organs] ben in good state and yf they ben hoole and well dysposed, the beest is al hoole.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 247. I shall you say shortely What thynges makyth the body fat, moiste, and well dysposid.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxix. § 4. Such a full and evident perception as it [the mind] does receive from an outward object operating duly on a well-disposed organ.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1842), III. 475. An healthful body and a sound mind, vigorous faculties and well-disposed organs.
† b. Of reason: ? Sound, sane. Obs.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. iii. 148. Wherfore no doom of weel disposid resoun reproueth and weerneth the seid hauyng and vsing of ymagis in the chirche.
† c. Of the weather: ? Temperate, fair. Obs.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 54 b. The fayr sonne shone clere … and the weder was softe and well disposed.
2. Suitably or skilfully placed, arranged or adjusted.
c. 1470. Ashby, Active Policy, 307. Be ye rather clept an executer Of wisdam … Than to be proclamed a wise speker,… Of bothe, weldisposed, fame shal arise.
1576. R. Peterson, G. della Casa’s Galateo, 71. Long and continued talke: which would be well disposed, wel vttered & very wel set forth.
1725. Bradley’s Family Dict., s.v. Vine, To plant an Acre of such Ground with Vines, in some well-disposed place on the declivity of an Hill.
1748. Melmoth, Fitzosborne Lett., lxi. (1749), II. 116. The grace and harmony of well-disposed lights and shades.
3. Of a good disposition; esp. disposed to be friendly or favorable, well-affected.
1455. Rolls of Parlt., V. 325/1. Every wele disposed persone of yis lande.
1456. Paston Lett., I. 392. The Comons of Kent … er not all weel disposid.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 15 b. An honeste or weldisposed manne.
1570. Elviden, New Yr.’s Gift (Huth 1875), B ij. Though the wicked syer Shoulde seeme for to prouoke His well disposed sonne to yll.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xvii. (1912), 259. A certain sparke of honour, which rose in her well-disposed minde, made her feare to be alone with him, with whom alone she desired to be.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 206. You loose a thousand well-disposed hearts.
1622. Wither, Faire Virtue, K 4 b. Should my heart be grieud … Cause I see a Woman kind? Or a well disposed Nature, Ioyned with a loudly Feature?
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 286. I was in a humour so well disposed that I accepted very willingly.
1665. Boyle, Excell. Theol. (1674), 139. Studious and well-dispos’d Readers may certainly understand such [truths] as are necessary for them to believe.
1709. Shaftesb., Charac. (1711), II. 74. While he … stands so well-dispos’d towards the Laws and Government of his higher Country.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. ii. The charity of well disposed people … supplies him with the whole fund of his subsistence.
1815. Scott, Guy M., lii. An obliging, well-disposed, and civil neighbour of mine.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 95. The Government should have done their best to secure a well-disposed House.
absol. 1659. South, Serm. (1679), 72. The Unprepossessed on the one hand, and the well disposed on the other.
1861. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xv. 235. The indolence and timidity of the well-disposed enabled the enemies of the people to prevail.
Hence Well-disposedness. rare.
1621. Bp. Hall, Heaven upon Earth, § 10. By a well-disposednesse of mind, we may correct the iniquity of all hard euents.
