wæll

wæll is an Old English word that primarily means "well" or "spring of water." It is a masculine noun. Its etymology traces back to Proto-Germanic *wallō, meaning "spring" or "well." This root is also found in other Germanic languages, such as Old Norse *vollr, meaning "field" or "plain," and German Quelle, meaning "spring" or "source."

In Old English literature and texts, "wæll" appears in various contexts. It can refer to a literal body of water, such as a natural spring emerging from the ground. It also carries a figurative meaning, akin to "source" or "origin" of something, although this usage is less common than its literal sense. The word is often found in place names, indicating locations where water sources were significant. Examples include places named after wells or springs.

The pronunciation of "wæll" would have varied slightly depending on the specific Old English dialect, but generally, the "w" sound would have been similar to the modern English "w," and the "æ" sound would have been like the "a" in "cat." The double "l" indicates a geminated consonant, meaning it was pronounced with a slightly longer duration. The word has largely fallen out of common usage in modern English, being replaced by the direct descendant "well" which retained the meaning of both a water source and an adverb.