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Webster 1913 Edition

Goodness

Good′ness

,
Noun.
[AS.
gōdnes
.]
The quality of being good in any of its various senses; excellence; virtue; kindness; benevolence;
as, the
goodness
of timber, of a soil, of food;
goodness
of character, of disposition, of conduct, etc.

Webster 1828 Edition

Goodness

GOOD'NESS

,
Noun.
The state of being good; the physical qualities which constitute value, excellence or perfection; as the goodness of timber; the goodness of a soil.
1.
The moral qualities which constitute christian excellence; moral virtue; religion.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Gal.5.
2.
Kindness; benevolence; benignity of heart; but more generally, acts of kindness; charity; humanity exercised. I shall remember his goodness to me with gratitude.
3.
Kindness; benevolence of nature; mercy.
The Lord God--abundant in goodness and truth. Ex.34.
4.
Kindness; favor shown; acts of benevolence, compassion or mercy.
Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Jehovah
had done to Israel. Ex.18.

Definition 2024

goodness

goodness

English

Noun

goodness ‎(countable and uncountable, plural goodnesses)

  1. (uncountable) The state or characteristic of being good.
  2. (countable) The good, nutritional, healthy part or content of something.
  3. (uncountable, euphemistic) God.
    Thank goodness that the war is over!
  4. (Christianity) The moral qualities which constitute Christian excellence; moral virtue.

Synonyms

  • See Wikisaurus:goodness

Derived terms

Translations

good part or content of something

External links

  • goodness in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • goodness in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • goodness at OneLook Dictionary Search

Etymology

From Middle English goodnesse, godnesse, from Old English gōdnes ‎(“goodness; virtue; kindness”), equivalent to good +‎ -ness. Cognate with Old High German gōtnassī, cōtnassī ‎(“goodness”), Middle High German guotnisse ‎(“goodness”).

Pronunciation

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