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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