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goodness

noun

  1. quality of having positive subjective value; opposite of badness
L309483 on Wikidata ↗

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”).

  1. 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”).

  1. 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.

  2. The good, nutritional, healthy part or content of something.
  3. God.

    Thank goodness that the war is over!

  4. 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.