speak well of

English

Verb

speak well of (third-person singular simple present speaks well of, present participle speaking well of, simple past spoke well of, past participle spoken well of)

  1. To say good things about someone or something.
    Synonyms: laud, praise, puff; see also Thesaurus:flatter, Thesaurus:glorify
    Antonyms: speak ill of; see also Thesaurus:defame
    • 1816, Jane Austen, chapter 4, in Emma‎[1]:
      She believed every body spoke well of him.
    • 1904, John R. Carling, “Idris Declares His Love”, in The Viking's Skull, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, page 204:
      "I have always shown her by my manner that I dislike her. She must think me an odious creature."
      "On the contrary," replied Idris, "whenever your name has been mentioned she has spoken well of you, and has expressed herself as desirous of your friendship."
    • 1911, Lemuel K. Washburn, “Speak Well of One Another”, in Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays‎[2], New York: The Truth Seeker Company:
      There is nothing that will make this world brighter and happier than to speak well of one another.
    • 1959 April, L. H. Leedham, “A Veteran of the M.S.L.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 279:
      Three were stationed at Leicester for use on the fast, light London trains, and Lancashire drove for some years No. 970, of which he speaks well.

References

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