welcome

[wel-kuh m] /ˈwɛl kəm/
interjection
1.
(a word of kindly greeting, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure):
Welcome, stranger!
noun
2.
a kindly greeting or reception, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure:
to give someone a warm welcome.
verb (used with object), welcomed, welcoming.
3.
to greet the arrival of (a person, guests, etc.) with pleasure or kindly courtesy.
4.
to receive or accept with pleasure; regard as pleasant or good:
to welcome a change.
5.
to meet, accept, or receive (an action, challenge, person, etc.) in a specified, especially unfriendly, manner:
They welcomed him with hisses and catcalls.
adjective
6.
gladly received, as one whose arrival gives pleasure:
a welcome visitor.
7.
agreeable, as something arriving, occurring, or experienced:
a welcome rest.
8.
given full right by the cordial consent of others:
She is welcome to try it.
9.
without obligation for the courtesy or favor received (used as a conventional response to expressions of thanks):
You're quite welcome.
Idioms
10.
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.
Origin
before 900; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse velkominn, equivalent to vel well1 + kominn come (past participle); replacing Old English wilcuma one who is welcome, equivalent to wil- welcome (see will2) + cuma comer
Related forms
welcomeness, noun
welcomer, noun
prewelcome, noun, verb (used with object), prewelcomed, prewelcoming.
unwelcome, adjective
unwelcomed, adjective
unwelcoming, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for wear out one's welcome

welcome

/ˈwɛlkəm/
adjective
1.
gladly and cordially received or admitted: a welcome guest
2.
bringing pleasure or gratitude: a welcome gift
3.
freely permitted or invited: you are welcome to call
4.
under no obligation (only in such phrases as you're welcome or he's welcome, as conventional responses to thanks)
sentence substitute
5.
an expression of cordial greeting, esp to a person whose arrival is desired or pleasing
noun
6.
the act of greeting or receiving a person or thing; reception: the new theory had a cool welcome
7.
wear out one's welcome, to come more often or stay longer than is acceptable or pleasing
verb (transitive)
8.
to greet the arrival of (visitors, guests, etc) cordially or gladly
9.
to receive or accept, esp gladly
Derived Forms
welcomely, adverb
welcomeness, noun
welcomer, noun
Word Origin
C12: changed (through influence of well1) from Old English wilcuma (agent noun referring to a welcome guest), wilcume (a greeting of welcome), from wilwill² + cuman to come
Word Origin and History for wear out one's welcome

welcome

n.

Old English wilcuma, exclamation of kindly greeting, from earlier wilcuma (n.) "welcome guest," literally "one whose coming is in accord with another's will," from willa "pleasure, desire, choice" (see will (v.)) + cuma "guest," related to cuman (see come). Cf. Old High German willicomo, Middle Dutch wellecome. Meaning "entertainment or public reception as a greeting" is recorded from 1530. You're welcome as a formulaic response to thank you is attested from 1907. Welcome mat first recorded 1951; welcome wagon is attested from 1961.

v.

Old English wilcumian, from wilcuma (see welcome (n.)). Related: Welcomed; welcoming.

Idioms and Phrases with wear out one's welcome

wear out one's welcome

Visit for longer than one's host wants, as in She wanted to stay another few days but feared she would wear out her welcome. This expression uses wear out in the sense of “exhaust” or “use up.” [ Mid-1800s ]

welcome

see: