English

Noun

wellwiller ‎(plural wellwillers)

1. One who firmly intends good; friend.
   • a. 1836, Samuel Johnson, ed. John Walker, Johnson's Dictionary (1836), page 376

     one who means well

   • a. 1899, Salisbury (marquesses of), Calendar of the manuscripts of the ... marquis of Salisbury ... preserved at ..., page 513

     I recommend his case to your favour, the more because I ever found him very affectionate and a zealous wellwiller to the public cause.

   • a. 1908, Catholic Record Society (Great Britain), Publications of the Catholic Record Society, page 395

     One Mr Cooke, then a wellwiller to Catholiques, but afterwards a good Catholique

Usage notes

Usually with "of" or a possessive indicating the object. Used in salutations and closings of correspondence and in dedications of books.

Related terms

• well-wisher