Meaning

noun governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need

noun something that aids or promotes well-being

noun a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous

originFrom Middle English welefare, probably from the Old English phrase wel faran (“to fare well, get along successfully, prosper”) (cognate with Middle Dutch welvare (“welfare”), Middle Low German wolvare (“welfare”), Middle High German wolvar, wolfar (“welfare”)). Equivalent to well + fare. Compare also West Frisian wolfeart, Dutch welvaart, German Wohlfahrt, Old Norse velferð (whence Swedish…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0