well disposed
1
5.8
- idiom
:
bien dispuesto
- Now, I've seen a lot of friendly crowds in the course of my professional life, but I must say I've never seen as many lovable, well-disposed people as I did that month in Russia.
Examples
-
Most people are well disposed to helping their neighbors during times of trouble.
-
If we make contact now, they will be well disposed to share all kinds of information about themselves.
Fiction book (1998) -
Many Iranians are well disposed toward us.
Academic text (2008) -
Naturally, the deal is popular with domestic constituencies, which were already well disposed toward the United States.
Academic text (2006) -
They hadn't talked for long, but he had left feeling well disposed towards her.
Fiction book (2000) -
At the beginning of the period analyzed here, the IMF remained well-disposed toward Peru.
Academic text (1994) -
His successor, Hormizd I, was also well disposed toward Mani and his preaching.
Academic text (1994) -
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King greatly admired President Roosevelt and was more personally well-disposed to the United States than Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies, who venerated British institutions.
Academic text (1998) -
What ultimately tilted the decision in Ellis's favor was Judge Wolverton's conviction that he was "possessed of the highest qualities which go to make an excellent citizen, well disposed toward the principles and policies of this government."
Academic text (2001) -
Reviewing the case in August 1907, another Stanford trustee, the San Francisco attorney Charles Eels, was less well disposed to Goebel than were Davis, Crothers, and Abbott.
Academic text (2003)
Synonyms
773
1.0
Kind and helpful toward other people
194
3.8
Likely to do something or feel a certain way
21
3.4
Friendly and pleasant in a way people like
11
1.0
Being gentle and caring to other people
Willing or likely to do something
Antonyms
How Friendly
175
2.7
348
2.8
1
5.8
46
4.4
22
1.9
194
4.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is compositionally built: 'disposed' = 'inclined/willing' and 'well' modifies that inclination to indicate a positive or favorable stance, so 'well disposed' directly yields 'favorably inclined'. This modifier + adjective pattern is common cross-linguistically and would be predictable to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
The phrase well disposed may come from the simple image of well, meaning 'properly', and disposed, meaning 'placed'. Imagine someone's feelings are arranged toward you so they are ready to be kind and help. That's why well disposed means 'likely to be friendly'.