I. adjective (better; best) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gōd; akin to Old High German guot ~, Middle High German gatern to unite, Sanskrit gadhya what one clings to Date: before 12th century 1. a. of a favorable character or tendency , bountiful , fertile , handsome , attractive , b. suitable , fit , free from injury or disease , not depreciated , commercially sound , that can be relied on , profitable , advantageous , c. agreeable , pleasant , salutary , wholesome , amusing , clever , d. of a noticeably large size or quantity ; considerable , full , (3) — used as an intensive e. well-founded , cogent , true , deserving of respect ; honorable , legally valid or effectual , f. adequate , satisfactory , conforming to a standard , choice , discriminating , containing less fat and being less tender than higher grades, 2. a. virtuous , right , commendable , kind , benevolent , upper-class , competent , skillful , d. loyal , close , free from infirmity or sorrow , ~ish adjective Usage: An old notion that it is wrong to say “I feel ~” in reference to health still occasionally appears in print. The origins of this notion are obscure, but they seem to combine someone's idea that ~ should be reserved to describe virtue and uncertainty about whether an adverb or an adjective should follow feel. Today nearly everyone agrees that both ~ and well can be predicate adjectives after feel. Both are used to express ~ health, but ~ may connote ~ spirits in addition to ~ health. II. noun Date: before 12th century 1. something that is ~, b. something conforming to the moral order of the universe, praiseworthy character ; ~ness , a ~ element or portion, 2. advancement of prosperity or well-being , something useful or beneficial , 3. something that has economic utility or satisfies an economic want, personal property having intrinsic value but usually excluding money, securities, and negotiable instruments, cloth , something manufactured or produced for sale ; wares, merchandise , freight , ~ persons, 5. plural the qualities required to achieve an end, proof of wrongdoing , III. adverb Date: 13th century well , 2. — used as an intensive Usage: Adverbial ~ has been under attack from the schoolroom since the 19th century. Insistence on well rather than ~ has resulted in a split in connotation: well is standard, neutral, and colorless, while ~ is emotionally charged and emphatic. This makes ~ the adverb of choice in sports . In such contexts as
~ cannot be adequately replaced by well. Adverbial ~ is primarily a spoken form; in writing it occurs in reported and fictional speech and in generally familiar or informal contexts.