Meaning of "wishing well" in the English dictionary

PRONUNCIATION OF WISHING WELL

wishing well  [ˈwɪʃɪŋ wɛl]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF WISHING WELL

Wishing well is a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES WISHING WELL MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Wishing well

A wishing well is a term from European folklore to describe wells where it was thought that any spoken wish would be granted. The idea that a wish would be granted came from the idea that water housed deities or had been placed there as a gift from the gods, since water was a source of life and often a scarce commodity. The Germanic and Celtic peoples considered springs and wells sacred places. Sometimes the places were marked with wooden statues possibly of the god associated with the pool. Germanic peoples were known to throw the armour and weapons of defeated enemies into bogs and other pools of water as offerings to their gods. Water was seen to have healing powers and therefore wells became popular with many people drinking, bathing or just simply wishing over it. Some people believe that the guardians or dwellers of the well would grant them their wish if they paid a price. After uttering the wish, one would generally drop coins in the well. That wish would then be granted by the guardian or dweller, based upon how the coin would land at the bottom of the well. It was thus potentially lucky to throw coins in the well, but it depended on how they landed.

Definition of wishing well in the English dictionary

The definition of wishing well in the dictionary is a well believed to have the property of making wishes made at it come true.

TRANSLATION OF WISHING WELL

Find out the translation of wishing well to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of wishing well from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «wishing well» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 许愿井
• Translator English - Spanish: pozo de los deseos
• English: wishing well
• Translator English - Hindi: अच्छी तरह से इच्छुक
• Translator English - Arabic: متمنيا جيدا
• Translator English - Russian: желающих хорошо
• Translator English - Portuguese: poço dos desejos
• Translator English - Bengali: ভাল ভাবেই
• Translator English - French: vouloir du bien
• Translator English - Malay: Berkeinginan baik
• Translator English - German: Wunschbrunnen
• Translator English - Japanese: うまく希望する
• Translator English - Korean: 잘 하고자하는
• Translator English - Javanese: Pengin uga
• Translator English - Vietnamese: có nhu cầu cũng
• Translator English - Tamil: நன்கு விரும்பும்
• Translator English - Marathi: सदिच्छा
• Translator English - Turkish: iyi dilekte bulunmak
• Translator English - Italian: pozzo dei desideri
• Translator English - Polish: Wishing Well
• Translator English - Ukrainian: бажають добре
• Translator English - Romanian: care doresc bine
• Translator English - Greek: που επιθυμούν καλά
• Translator English - Afrikaans: wat goed
• Translator English - Swedish: önskebrunn
• Translator English - Norwegian: ønskebrønnen

QUOTES WITH «WISHING WELL»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word wishing well.

1

Rene Russo

Every day, every birthday candle I blow out, every penny I throw over my shoulder in a wishing well, every time my daughter says, 'Let's make a wish on a star,' there's one thing I wish for: wisdom.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «WISHING WELL»

Discover the use of wishing well in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to wishing well and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

The Wishing Well

Molly Minstrel is treated worse than Cinderella by her mom and sisters.

Kai Strand, 2012

The Wishing Well

When Laura Wells' husband Craig dies, she decides to return to her native Lancashire to help nurse her ailing mother.

Anna Jacobs, 2005

Wishing Well

The old village well is just a curiosity - something to attract tourists intrigued by stories of lost treasure, or visitors just making a wish.

Trevor Baxendale, 2007

Wishing Well

The Wishing Well is a feisty, powerful and uplifting story of resilience and love, told seductively with a wealth of actor-power, passion, vivacity and warmth."--Publisher's website.

Michael Futcher, Helen Howard, 2009

The Wishing Well

In this gripping novel, Gray takes readers on a metaphysical thrill ride, where every wish made at the wishing well comes true.

Joyce Veranda Gray, 2008

Toby Claypot's wishing well

In the village of Rainbow's End, which is inhabited by gnomes, Toby Claypot's granddaughter makes a wish at the wishing well for just the right birthday present for him.

Jane Patience, John Patience, 1987

Wishing Well

Wishing well, a story about a boy in a wheelchair waiting all his life to walk. Legend has it thatthere is a secret wishing well that grants any wish. With hope in his heart he sets out to findthis wishing well, no matter what.

Justin Duff, 2012

The Wishing Well

Timothy Legget, 12, was forced to grow up quickly living in Appleton, Kentucky, caring for his younger sister, Lisa.

James E. Livingston, 2002

Wishing Well #3

More information to be announced soon on this forthcoming title from Penguin USA

Jason Lethcoe, 2007

The Wishing Well

When Mark Faris first met Cate Greenway, he knew she was an angel.

Mark Faris, 2011

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «WISHING WELL»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term wishing well is used in the context of the following news items.

Phillies Bar Review: Wishing Well

Blessed with the benefit of planning in advance, I was able to make my way into the city to catch a game at Bella Vista's Wishing Well bar. I have been to Wishing ... «The Good Phight, Apr 15»

Lucky little lamb gets new lease on life

Surrounded by staff and onlookers at Wishing Well animal sanctuary in Bradford, Ont., the little lamb peered up at the beaming faces, looking rather sheepish ... «Toronto Star, Apr 15»

Wishes stolen from park wishing well

PENNY-PINCHING: Pukekura Park's Fernery technical officer Donna Christiansen says wishing well coin theft has got out of hand in the last five months. «Taranaki Daily News, Mar 15»

Cold Case: Columbus Police Make Arrest For 2008 Murder Of …

On July 9, 2008, Seff was found dead and upside down inside a wishing well located behind 836 S. High Street. Her body was there for at least two to five days ... «10TV, Mar 15»

A wishing well marks a part of Bellevue's history

For decades since its dedication in 1951, this little wishing well collected wishes and charity money from thousands of visitors to the old Bellevue Square. «The Seattle Times, Mar 15»

Birdlover returns from year layoff to win Wishing Well

Layoffs were not an issue for Birdlover and Indecise in Sunday's $79,000 Wishing Well Stakes at Santa Anita. Birdlover, unraced since finishing second in the ... «Daily Racing Form, Feb 15»

Thieves steal money from Wookey Hole wishing well meant for …

Two callous thieves were caught on camera using homemade scoops to dip into into a wishing well filled with donations meant for sick children with cancer. «Daily Mail, Feb 15»

Randy Jackson Hosts Wishing Well Winter Gala

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles rang in the holiday season with the chapter's second annual Wishing Well Winter Gala on Wednesday, ... «Look To The Stars, Dec 14»

Spectacular 'Wishing Well' star cluster displayed on video

Star cluster NGC 3532 – known as the Wishing Well Cluster – is some 1,300 light-years from the Sun, located in the Carina constellation. Now you can zoom in ... «RT, Nov 14»

'Wishing Well' Star Cluster Sparkles in Colorful New Views (Photos …

A multicolored group of stars shine at the bottom of a cosmic wishing well in an amazing new image. The stars of the open cluster NGC 3532 glitter like the coins ... «Space.com, Nov 14»