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}.]
   
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   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.
      
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            And God saw everything that he had made, and behold,
            it was very good.                     --Gen. i. 31.
      
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            Good company, good wine, good welcome. --Shak.
      
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   2. Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious;
      religious; -- said of persons or actions.
      
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            In all things showing thyself a pattern of good
            works.                                --Tit. ii. 7.
      
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   3. Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite;
      propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by
      to or toward, also formerly by unto.
      
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            The men were very good unto us.       --1 Sam. xxv.
                                                  15.
      
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   4. Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be
      relied upon; -- followed especially by for.
      
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            All quality that is good for anything is founded
            originally in merit.                  --Collier.
      
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   5. Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed
      especially by at.
      
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            He . . . is a good workman; a very good tailor.
                                                  --Shak.
      
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            Those are generally good at flattering who are good
            for nothing else.                     --South.
      
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   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.
      
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            My reasons are both good and weighty. --Shak.
      
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            My meaning in saying he is a good man is . . . that
            he is sufficient . . . I think I may take his bond.
                                                  --Shak.
      
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   7. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest;
      in good sooth.
      
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            Love no man in good earnest.          --Shak.
      
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   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.
      
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   9. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete.
      
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            Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and
            running over.                         --Luke vi. 38.
      
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   10. Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied;
       as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good
       repute, etc.
       
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             A good name is better than precious ointment.
                                                  --Eccl. vii.
                                                  1.
       
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   {As good as}. See under {As}.

   {For good}, or {For good and all}, completely and finally;
      fully; truly.
      
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            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.
      
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            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.
           
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                 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.
      
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            The good nature and generosity which belonged to his
            character.                            --Macaulay.
      
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            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.
           
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                 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.
      
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            Each word made good and true.         --Shak.
      
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            Of no power to make his wishes good.  --Shak.
      
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            I . . . would by combat make her good. --Shak.
      
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            Convenient numbers to make good the city. --Shak.

   {To think good}, to approve; to be pleased or satisfied with;
      to consider expedient or proper.
      
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            If ye think good, give me my price; and if not,
            forbear.                              --Zech. xi.
                                                  12.
      
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   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.
         
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Best \Best\, n.
   Utmost; highest endeavor or state; most nearly perfect thing,
   or being, or action; as, to do one's best; to the best of our
   ability.
   
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   {At best}, in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the
      case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is
      at best very short.

   {For best}, finally. [Obs.] "Those constitutions . . . are
      now established for best, and not to be mended." --Milton.

   {To get the best of}, to gain an advantage over, whether
      fairly or unfairly.

   {To make the best of}.
   (a) To improve to the utmost; to use or dispose of to the
       greatest advantage. "Let there be freedom to carry their
       commodities where they can make the best of them."
       --Bacon.
   (b) To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to
       make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
       
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Best \Best\ (b[e^]st), a.; superl. of Good. [AS. besta, best,
   contr. from betest, betst, betsta; akin to Goth. batists,
   OHG. pezzisto, G. best, beste, D. best, Icel. beztr, Dan.
   best, Sw. b[aum]st. This word has no connection in origin
   with good. See {Better}.]
   1. Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good,
      kind, desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent; as, the
      best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best
      abilities.
      
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            When he is best, he is a little worse than a man.
                                                  --Shak.
      
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            Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight.
                                                  --Milton.
      
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   2. Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best
      scholar; the best view of a subject.
      
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   3. Most; largest; as, the best part of a week.
      
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   {Best man}, the only or principal groomsman at a wedding
      ceremony.
      
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Best \Best\, adv.; superl. of {Well}.
   1. In the highest degree; beyond all others. "Thou serpent!
      That name best befits thee." --Milton.
      
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            He prayeth best, who loveth best
            All things both great and small.      --Coleridge.
      
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   2. To the most advantage; with the most success, case,
      profit, benefit, or propriety.
      
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            Had we best retire? I see a storm.    --Milton.
      
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            Had I not best go to her?             --Thackeray.
      
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   3. Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is
      expedient is best known to himself.
      
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Best \Best\, v. t.
   To get the better of. [Colloq.]
   
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