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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WEEL-SEEN, ppl.adj.

1. Easily seen, manifest for all to see, evident. Obs. in Eng See also See, v., 9.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. i.:
Daftly wad ye hide Your well seen Love and dorty Jenny's Pride.Sc. 1818 Hogg Wool-Gatherer (1874) 71:
It was ower weel seen how matters stood.wm.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan 21:
It's weel seen, gentlemen, ye are but young lairds.Cai. 1960 Edb. John o' Groat Liter. Soc. 10:
It's weel seen we've hedden a good simmer.Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 76:
well seen Obvious, to be expected: 'Is this you hame already? It's well seen your boss is on holiday.' Sc. 2000 Aberdeen Evening Express 26 May 12:
In it went gadgets, torch, fuses, wire, candles, screws, drivers, dinky hammer and, ominously, bandage, plaster and anti-septic cream. Oh he of little faith. It's well-seen he was the most-badged swot of the Scouts. Sc. 2001 Daily Record 30 Aug 42:
It's well seen reader L. Mitchell is from a snobbish area and obviously not in tune with down-to-earth types such as Tam Cowan. Sc. 2003 Evening Times 13 Jun 76:
It's well seen it's the close season. That's surely the only plausible explanation for all the fuss surrounding Paul Lambert's news that he will wait until he returns from holiday before telling Berti Vogts if he is to continue playing for Scotland.

2. With in: well-versed, proficient, very knowledgeable. Arch.Sc. 1700 R. Wodrow Letters (S.H.S.) 129:
Till they be weel seen in our oun orthodox opinions.Sc. 1732 T. Boston Memoirs (1853) 450:
Was well seen in the Greek.Sc. 1886 Longman's Mag. (Feb.) 443:
The bibliophile was well seen in the naughty little novels of the eighteenth century.