What is "well off"

Well \Well\, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v["a]l, Goth. wa['i]la; originally meaning, according to one's will or wish. See Will, v. t., and cf. Wealth.]

1. In a good or proper manner; justly; rightly; not ill or wickedly.

   If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
   --Gen. iv. 7.

2. Suitably to one's condition, to the occasion, or to a proposed end or use; suitably; abundantly; fully; adequately; thoroughly.

   Lot . . . beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere.
   --Gen. xiii. 10.

   WE are wellable to overcome it.
   --Num. xiii. 30.

   She looketh well to the ways of her household.
   --Prov. xxxi. 27.

   Servant of God, well done! well hast thou fought The better fight.
   --Milton.

3. Fully or about; -- used with numbers. [Obs.] ``Well a ten or twelve.''
   --Chaucer.

   Well nine and twenty in a company.
   --Chaucer.

4. In such manner as is desirable; so as one could wish; satisfactorily; favorably; advantageously; conveniently. ``It boded well to you.''
   --Dryden.

   Know In measure what the mind may well contain.
   --Milton.

   All the world speaks well of you.
   --Pope.

5. Considerably; not a little; far.

   Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age.
   --Gen. xviii. 11.

   Note: Well is sometimes used elliptically for it is well, as an expression of satisfaction with what has been said or done, and sometimes it expresses concession, or is merely expletive; as, well, the work is done; well, let us go; well, well, be it so.

   Note: Well, like above, ill, and so, is used before many participial adjectives in its usual adverbial senses, and subject to the same custom with regard to the use of the hyphen (see the Note under Ill, adv.); as, a well-affected supporter; he was well affected toward the project; a well-trained speaker; he was well trained in speaking; well-educated, or well educated; well-dressed, or well dressed; well-appearing; well-behaved; well-controlled; well-designed; well-directed; well-formed; well-meant; well-minded; well-ordered; well-performed; well-pleased; well-pleasing; well-seasoned; well-steered; well-tasted; well-told, etc. Such compound epithets usually have an obvious meaning, and since they may be formed at will, only a few of this class are given in the Vocabulary.

   As well. See under As.

   As well as, and also; together with; not less than; one as much as the other; as, a sickness long, as well as severe; London is the largest city in England, as well as the capital.

   Well enough, well or good in a moderate degree; so as to give satisfaction, or so as to require no alteration.

   Well off, in good condition; especially, in good condition as to property or any advantages; thriving; prosperous.

   Well to do, well off; prosperous; -- used also adjectively. ``The class well to do in the world.''
   --J. H. Newman.

   Well to live, in easy circumstances; well off; well to do.
   --Shak.

a. Of a person, being in fortunate circumstances, especially having financial security. alt. Of a person, being in fortunate circumstances, especially having financial security.