A phrase from historical newspaper personal ads, explained with real examples from the archive.
Prosperous; comfortably off.
| Type | Historical language |
|---|---|
| Category | Description |
| Earliest example in the archive | October 11, 1905, Evening Statesman |
| Most common | 1850s to the 1920s |
Well to do was a modest way to describe your own finances, and it usually came alongside character words. The 1905 farmer in Walla Walla called himself honorable, intelligent, well to do.
HONORABLE, INTELLIGENT, WELL to do farmer, widower, aged 45, wishes the acquaintance of a lady not over 40. Object matrimony. Address by letter, J. W. care Statesman.
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How this fits into 170 years of personal ad shorthand: From Object Matrimony to LTR: How Personal Ads Learned to Talk in Code.
All dictionary entries · The Personals Archive · How to write a personal ad
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