Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a general intensifier, very, definitely, extremely etc; thus well tasty, well sus etc.

c.1386		Chaucer Reeve’s Prologue (1979) line 616: He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
c.1580		‘I.T.’ Grim The Collier of Croydon IV i: He was well bang’d, and knew not who it was did it.
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 26/2: I am b—y well sold, and the ‘sheeney’ is a ‘namaser’ and a little ‘shiser’ — serves me well right.
1901		W.S. Walker In the Blood 101: They fight to make their mark. You would have to be ‘well topped up,’ i.e., your head cracked and yourself left senseless, before they would be satisfied.
1914		Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Oct. 44/1: Enticed back, he was assiduously waited upon and entertained until he was well tanked.
1919		Transcript Dunn Inq. in L.R. Murphy Perverts by Official Order (1989) 23: Rideout predicted [...] he would be a ‘well-fucked hombre and that his ass hole would be hanging out all over his ears.’.
1929		K.S. Prichard Coonardoo 305: He was well-screwed and in great form.
1930		C.R. Shaw Jack-Roller 145: I thought we well earned our money in the struggle, because we had a close call with the razor.
1958		A. Sillitoe Sat. Night and Sun. Morning 170: Arthur, by now well-soaked, started the whole room singing.
1962		F. Norman Guntz 180: I remember a time when you was well pleased to talk to me.
1969		C. Himes Blind Man with a Pistol (1971) 85: By the time the sergeant got to the tenants in the last room he was well browned off.
1970		G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 140: Veryhard is well stitched up.
1984		A. Sayle Train to Hell 11: I was well pissed off.
1989		T. Blacker Fixx 308: He got well leery when I spent the night with John.
1998		G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 231: Joyce, the second oldest, was domineering and well out of order, and she had found God.
2007		Indep. 1 June 20: They were [...] ‘well chuffed’ at receiving their generous grant.
2011		Independent 12 May 4/4: A well dodgy scrote asking for a kicking.
2016		A. Wheatle Crongton Knights 49: ‘Mum’s books came in handy, innit’ [...] ‘Yes, they’ve been well useful’.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 393: ‘I got clients who are well ethnic. Not short of a rupee or two’.