Weal; Commonweal; Commonwealth; Wealth
WEAL Weal has, since the dawn of English, referred to well-being. It’s most often used in the phrase “common weal” to refer to the general good—that is, to the happiness, health, and safety of everyone in a community or nation. A closed form of this phrase, commonweal, has since the 14th century carried the same meaning, but it once also referred to an organized political entity, such as a nation or state. This job (among others) is now done by the word’s close relation, commonwealth. At one time, weal and wealth were synonyms; both meant “riches” (as in “all their worldly weal”) and “well-being.” Both words stem from wela, the Old English word for “well-being,” and are closely related to the Old English word for “well.” Merriam-Webster: Weal 1 archaic : commonwealth 2 : the general welfare COMMONWEALTH 1 a nation, state, or other political unit: such as a one founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement for t
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