Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Good?

\Good\, a. [Compar. {Better}; superl. {Best}. These words, though used as the comparative and superlative of good, are from a different root.] [AS. G[=o]d, akin to D. goed, OS. g[=o]d, OHG. guot, G. gut, Icel. g[=o][eth]r, Sw. & Dan. god, Goth. g[=o]ds; prob. orig., fitting, belonging together, and akin to E. gather. [root]29 Cf. {Gather}.] 1. Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed; promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent; admirable; commendable; not bad, corrupt, evil, noxious, offensive, or troublesome, etc. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. --Gen. i. 31. Good company, good wine, good welcome. --Shak. 2. Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious; religious; -- said of persons or actions. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works. --Tit. ii. 7. 3. Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite; propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by to or toward, also formerly by unto. The men were very good unto us. --1 Sam. xxv. 15. 4. Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be relied upon; -- followed especially by for. All quality that is good for anything is founded originally in merit. --Collier. 5. Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed especially by at. He . . . is a good workman; a very good tailor. --Shak. Those are generally good at flattering who are good for nothing else. --South. 6. Adequate; sufficient; competent; sound; not fallacious; valid; in a commercial sense, to be depended on for the discharge of obligations incurred; having pecuniary ability; of unimpaired credit. My reasons are both good and weighty. --Shak. My meaning in saying he is a good man is . . . that he is sufficient . . . I think I may take his bond. --Shak. 7. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest; in good sooth. Love no man in good earnest. --Shak. 8. Not small, insignificant, or of no account; considerable; esp., in the phrases a good deal, a good way, a good degree, a good share or part, etc. 9. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete. Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. --Luke vi. 38. 10. Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied; as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good repute, etc. A good name is better than precious ointment. --Eccl. vii. 1. {As good as}. See under {As}. {For good}, or {For good and all}, completely and finally; fully; truly. The good woman never died after this, till she came to die for good and all. --L'Estrange. {Good breeding}, polite or polished manners, formed by education; a polite education. Distinguished by good humor and good breeding. --Macaulay. {Good cheap}, literally, good bargain; reasonably cheap. {Good consideration} (Law). (a) A consideration of blood or of natural love and affection. --Blackstone. (b) A valuable consideration, or one which will sustain a contract. {Good fellow}, a person of companionable qualities. [Familiar] {Good folk}, {or Good people}, fairies; brownies; pixies, etc. [Colloq. Eng. & Scot.] {Good for nothing}. (a) Of no value; useless; worthless. (b) Used substantively, an idle, worthless person. My father always said I was born to be a good for nothing. --Ld. Lytton. {Good Friday}, the Friday of Holy Week, kept in some churches as a fast, in memoory of our Savior's passion or suffering; the anniversary of the crucifixion. {Good humor}, or {Good-humor}, a cheerful or pleasant temper or state of mind. {Good nature}, or {Good-nature}, habitual kindness or mildness of temper or disposition; amiability; state of being in good humor. The good nature and generosity which belonged to his character. --Macaulay. The young count's good nature and easy persuadability were among his best characteristics. --Hawthorne. {Good people}. See {Good folk} (above). {Good speed}, good luck; good success; godspeed; -- an old form of wishing success. See {Speed}. {Good turn}, an act of kidness; a favor. {Good will}. (a) Benevolence; well wishing; kindly feeling. (b) (Law) The custom of any trade or business; the tendency or inclination of persons, old customers and others, to resort to an established place of business; the advantage accruing from tendency or inclination. The good will of a trade is nothing more than the probability that the old customers will resort to the old place. --Lord Eldon. {In good time}. (a) Promptly; punctually; opportunely; not too soon nor too late. (b) (Mus.) Correctly; in proper time. {To hold good}, to remain true or valid; to be operative; to remain in force or effect; as, his promise holds good; the condition still holds good. {To make good}, to fulfill; to establish; to maintain; to supply (a defect or deficiency); to indemmify; to prove or verify (an accusation); to prove to be blameless; to clear; to vindicate. Each word made good and true. --Shak. Of no power to make his wishes good. --Shak. I . . . would by combat make her good. --Shak. Convenient numbers to make good the city. --Shak. {To think good}, to approve; to be pleased or satisfied with; to consider expedient or proper. If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. --Zech. xi. 12. Note: Good, in the sense of wishing well, is much used in greeting and leave-taking; as, good day, good night, good evening, good morning, etc.
\Good\, n. 1. That which possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, is serviceable, fit, excellent, kind, benevolent, etc.; -- opposed to evil. There be many that say, Who will show us any good ? --Ps. iv. 6. 2. Advancement of interest or happiness; welfare; prosperity; advantage; benefit; -- opposed to harm, etc. The good of the whole community can be promoted only by advancing the good of each of the members composing it. --Jay. 3. pl. Wares; commodities; chattels; -- formerly used in the singular in a collective sense. In law, a comprehensive name for almost all personal property as distinguished from land or real property. --Wharton. He hath made us spend much good. --Chaucer. Thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice. --Shak. {Dress goods}, {Dry goods}, etc. See in the Vocabulary. {Goods engine}, a freight locomotive. [Eng.] {Goods train}, a freight train. [Eng.] {Goods wagon}, a freight car [Eng.] See the Note under {Car}, n., 2.
\Good\, adv. Well, -- especially in the phrase as good, with a following as expressed or implied; equally well with as much advantage or as little harm as possible. As good almost kill a man as kill a good book. --Milton. {As good as}, in effect; virtually; the same as. They who counsel ye to such a suppressing, do as good as bid ye suppress yourselves. --Milton.
\Good\, v. t. 1. To make good; to turn to good. [Obs.] 2. To manure; to improve. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.