good adjective [comparative Better; superlative Best. These words, though used as the comparative and superlative of good, are from a different root.] [AS. Gōd, akin to D. goed, OS. gōd, OHG. guot, G. gut, Icel. gōðr, Sw. & Dan. god, Goth. gōds; prob. orig., fitting, belonging together, and akin to E. gather. √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 ointmentEccl. 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 humor man

a travelling vendor who sells Good Humor ice-cream (or some similar ice-cream) from a small refrigerated truck; he usually drives slowly through residential neighborhoods in summertime, loudly playing some distinctive recorded music to announce his presence. [U. S.]

Good nature

or

Good-nature

habitual kindness or mildness of temper or disposition; amiability; state of being in good humor.
Br> 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.

☞ 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, noun

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, noun, 2.

Good, adverb 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.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913