welcome

—welcomeness, n. —welcomer, n.

/wel"keuhm/, interj., n., v., welcomed, welcoming, adj.

interj.

1. (a word of kindly greeting, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure): Welcome, stranger!

n.

2. a kindly greeting or reception, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure: to give someone a warm welcome.

3. wear out one's welcome, to make one's visits so frequent or of such long duration that they become offensive: Your cousins have long since worn out their welcome.

v.t.

4. to greet the arrival of (a person, guests, etc.) with pleasure or kindly courtesy.

5. to receive or accept with pleasure; regard as pleasant or good: to welcome a change.

6. to meet, accept, or receive (an action, challenge, person, etc.) in a specified, esp. unfriendly, manner: They welcomed him with hisses and catcalls.

adj.

7. gladly received, as one whose arrival gives pleasure: a welcome visitor.

8. agreeable, as something arriving, occurring, or experienced: a welcome rest.

9. given full right by the cordial consent of others: She is welcome to try it.

10. without obligation for the courtesy or favor received (used as a conventional response to expressions of thanks): You're quite welcome.

[bef. 900; ME < Scand; cf. ON velkominn, equiv. to vel WELL¹ + kominn COME (ptp.); r. OE wilcuma one who is welcome, equiv. to wil- welcome (see WILL²) + cuma comer]

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