Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Welcome

Welcome , adjective

[Old English welcome, welcume, wilcume, Anglo-Saxon wilcuma a welcome guest, from wil-, as a prefix, akin to willa will + cuma a comer, from cuman to come; hence, properly, one who comes so as to please another's will; compare Icelandic velkominn welcome, German willkommen. See Will, n., and Come.]

1.
Received with gladness; admitted willingly to the house, entertainment, or company; as, a welcome visitor.
When the glad soul is made Heaven's welcome guest. — Cowper
2.
Producing gladness; grateful; as, a welcome present; welcome news.
O, welcome hour! — Milton
3.
Free to have or enjoy gratuitously; as, you are welcome to the use of my library.

Welcome is used elliptically for you are welcome. “Welcome, great monarch, to your own.”

Collocations (1)
Welcome-to-our-house (Botany) , a kind of spurge (Euphorbia Cyparissias). — Dr. Prior

Welcome , noun

1.
Salutation to a newcomer.
Welcome ever smiles. — Shakespeare
2.
Kind reception of a guest or newcomer; as, we entered the house and found a ready welcome.
His warmest welcome at an inn. — Shenstone
Truth finds an entrance and a welcome too. — South
To thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome. — Shakespeare
Collocations (1)
To bid welcome , to receive with professions of kindness.

Welcome , transitive verb

[Anglo-Saxon wilcumian.]

To salute with kindness, as a newcomer; to receive and entertain hospitably and cheerfully; as, to welcome a visitor; to welcome a new idea.
I welcome you to land. — Addison
Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. — Milton