[OE. welspryng, wylspring: see WELL sb.1 and SPRING sb.1]

1

  1.  The source or head-spring of a stream; a fountain-head.

2

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 22. God … asende ren of heofonum feowertiʓ daʓa togædere, and ʓeopenode þær toʓeanes ealle wyllspringas.

3

c. 1100.  Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 178/9. Latex, welspreng.

4

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1243. An angel … Taȝte her ðor a welle spring.

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c. 1305.  St. Kenelm, 293, in E. E. P. (1862), 55. A wil spring vp þere stod Of þe stede þer he lai on.

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c. 1450.  Merlin, xx. 338. A litill brooke that com rennynge of two welle sprynges of a mountayne.

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1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. xlii. 1. Like as the hart doth breath and bray the well-springs to obtaine.

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1613–6.  W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. i. 12. When of that streame he had discouered The fount, the well-spring, or the bubling head, He there would sit.

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1645–50.  Boate, Ireland’s Nat. Hist., vii. (1652), 54. The water of these Well-springs is for the most part cool, clear, and pure.

10

1796.  Marshall, Rur. Econ. Midl., II. Gloss., Wall-spring.

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1805.  R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., I. 290. Such ditches … should be cut at the feet of the adjacent rising grounds … so as to intercept the wall-springs and land-floods.

12

1877.  J. D. Chambers, Div. Worship, 233. The Water … drawn recently from a well-spring.

13

  2.  fig. A source of perennial emanation or supply.

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c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., lxv. 467. Ðæs wæterscipes welsprynge is on hefonrice.

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c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., I. 52. Seo soðe lufu is wylspring and ordfruma ealra godnyssa.

16

a. 1240.  Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 195. Al englene were … Siggeð and singeð þet tu ert liues welsprung.

17

1534.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1208/1. Surely ye riche mannes substaunce, is ye welspring of the poore mannes liuing.

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1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades, I. vi. 54. True fayth is the welspryng and roote of all vertues.

19

1611.  Bible, Prov. xvi. 22. Vnderstanding is a well-spring of life vnto him that hath it.

20

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., II. 75. This City was the Mother & Well-spring of all liberall Arts and Sciences.

21

c. 1710.  Prior, My Birthday, 13. Well-spring of all my joy and woe, Clotilda.

22

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxix. It was because they bore in their own hearts an inexhaustible well-spring of affection and devotion.

23

1876.  Bancroft, Hist. U.S., II. xxii. 21. War for liberty became unexpectedly a well-spring of opulence.

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