welfare

Meanings

Noun

• Health, safety, happiness and prosperity; well-being in any respect.
• Various forms of financial aid provided by the government to those who are in need of it (abbreviated form of welfare assistance).
• Such payment.

Verb

• To provide with welfare or aid.

Origin

• From Middle English welfare, probably from the Old English phrase wel faran (cognate with Middle Low German wolvare, Old Norse velferð, Swedish välfärd, German Wohlfahrt and Dutch welvaart.) Equivalent to well + fare.