goodness
noun
- quality of having positive subjective value; opposite of badness
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɡʊdnəs/ / /ˈɡʊ(d)nɪs/
intj
Etymology: From Middle English goodnesse, godnesse, from Old English gōdnes (“goodness; virtue; kindness”), from Proto-West Germanic *gōdnassī (“goodness”), equivalent to good + -ness. Cognate with Scots guidness (“goodness”), West Frisian goedens (“goodness”), Old High German guotnessī (“goodness”), Middle High German guotnisse (“goodness”), Russian годность (godnostʹ, “suitability, fitness”).
- Clipping of goodness me or various similar exclamations such as goodness gracious.
noun
Etymology: From Middle English goodnesse, godnesse, from Old English gōdnes (“goodness; virtue; kindness”), from Proto-West Germanic *gōdnassī (“goodness”), equivalent to good + -ness. Cognate with Scots guidness (“goodness”), West Frisian goedens (“goodness”), Old High German guotnessī (“goodness”), Middle High German guotnisse (“goodness”), Russian годность (godnostʹ, “suitability, fitness”).
- The state or characteristic of being good.
“There is ſome ſoule of goodneſſe in things euill, / VVould men obſeruingly 'diſtill it out.”
“Rich, raisiny, smoky, coffee goodness: that is the flavor of urfa biber.”
- The good, nutritional, healthy part or content of something.
- God.
“Thank goodness that the war is over!”
- The moral qualities which constitute Christian excellence; moral virtue.
“But the fruit of the ſpirit is loue, ioy, peace, long ſuffering, gentleneſſe, goodneſſe, faith, / Meekeneſſe, temperance: againſt ſuch there is no law.”