wealth

Alternative forms

• wealthe, welth, welthe (all obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English welth, welthe, weolthe (“happiness, prosperity”), from Old English *welþ, *weleþu, from Proto-Germanic *waliþō (“wealth”). Alternatively, possibly an alteration (due to similar words in -th: compare helth (“health”), derth (“dearth”)) of wele (“wealth, well-being, weal”), from Old English wela (“wealth, prosperity”), from Proto-Germanic *walô (“well-being, prosperity”), from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“good, best”), equivalent to weal +‎ -th. Cognate with Dutch weelde (“wealth”), Low German weelde (“wealth”), Old High German welida, welitha (“wealth”). Related also to German Wohl (“welfare, well-being, weal”), Danish vel (“weal, welfare”), Swedish väl (“well-being, weal”). More at weal, well.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɛlθ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛlθ

Noun

wealth (usually uncountable, plural wealths)

1. (economics) Riches; valuable material possessions.
2. A great amount; an abundance or plenty.

   She brings a wealth of knowledge to the project.

3. (obsolete) prosperity; well-being; happiness.
   • 1611, Bible (King James Version), 1 Corinthians 10:24:

     Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.