goodness

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The state or characteristic of being good.

   There is ſome ſoule of goodneſſe in things euill, / VVould men obſeruingly 'diſtill it out.

2. 2
   noun

   God.

   Thank goodness that the war is over!

3. 3
   noun

   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.

4. 4
   noun

   moral excellence or admirableness

5. 5
   noun

   that which is pleasing or valuable or useful

6. 6
   noun

   The good, nutritional, healthy part or content of something.

7. 7
   intj

   Clipping of goodness me or various similar exclamations such as goodness gracious.

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”).