I. ˈgu̇d, in formulas of meeting & parting often _gəd adjective
( bet·ter ˈbed.ə(r), -etə- ; best ˈbest)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gōd; akin to Old High German guot good, Old Norse gōthr, Gothic goths good, Old Frisian gadia to unite, Old High German bi gatōn to fit together, gi gat fitting, Sanskrit gadh to hold fast; basic meaning: uniting, fitting
1.
a.
(1) : having a favorable or auspicious character : prosperous , beneficial
sailed for France with a good wind
when the moon is good … they often pursue the chase far into the night — James Stevenson-Hamilton
the country is enjoying good times
the company has had a good year
(2) : conveying or reporting what is favorable or fortunate : welcome
have you heard the good news
(3) : producing, marked by, or favorable to a bountiful yield or a yield of high quality : fertile
the land around here is not very good
wine of a good recent year
(4) : favorably affecting one's interests : leading to or attended by a favorable or prosperous outcome
as his good fortune would have it
wished him good luck
(5) : marked by or conveying approval or commendation
sought to win my good opinion
had a good report on his work
had not one good word to say about him
(6) : making a favorable impression with respect to moral character : inspiring trust
he had a good face; I instinctively liked him
(7) : making a favorable impression with respect to appearance or other physical traits : comely , attractive , beautiful
had a good face and figure
she's certainly good to look at
had lost her good looks
an early Georgian manor of distinguished good looks — H.H.Johnston
(8) : becoming , appropriate
don't like that dress … it isn't good for you — Elizabeth Hardwick
(9) : reserved for special occasions : not shabby or worn : best
he's got one good suit — James Sheldrake
she wore her good dress
b.
(1) : adapted to the end designed or proposed : satisfactory in performance : free from flaws or defects : useful , suitable , fit
this light is good for reading
a good car
this liquor … will keep good for a long time — Encyc. Americana
is this fruit good to eat
(2) : not impaired : sound
this missing eye had more expression than the … good one — Vicki Baum
had to do everything with his one good arm
your hearing is good
enjoying good health
(3) : not downcast or dejected : amiably cheerful : sunny , smiling
found him in a good mood
his good humor is infectious
trying to put a good face on your wretchedness — William Black
(4) : not counterfeit : genuine
insisted the new car was financed with good money — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
: not depreciated
bad money drives good money out of circulation
(5) : commercially sound or reliable
a good debt
a good risk
a good check
(6) : having a useful life of a specified duration : certain to last or live for a specified term — used with for
most swords … were good only for half a dozen hard blows — Tom Wintringham
the old fellow is good for another 30 years
from the feel of it, the storm would be good for three days — Robert Murphy
(7) : having the assured capacity or willingness to pay or contribute a specified amount — used with for
is good for a cool million
confident his friend would be good for a few hundred — Henry Miller
(8) : certain to elicit or produce a specified result — used with for
the very sound of the word was always good for a laugh — Alfred Kazin
that is good for a three months' debate by itself — New Republic
(9) : profitable , lucrative , advantageous
made a very good deal
— often used in the phrase good thing
knew they were onto a good thing — Bryan Morgan
and especially in the phrase make a good thing of
was supposed to be making a good thing out of it — Hamilton Basso
British authors … made a good thing of coming over here — Richard Joseph
c.
(1) : suited to give or giving pleasure : agreeable , pleasant
all had a good time
a good dinner
we enjoyed your good company
(2) : tending to promote well-being or health : salutary , wholesome — used chiefly with for
sunshine and fresh air are good for one
this is good medicine for a cold
(3) : entertaining by its wit or sparkle : amusing , clever , funny
a good joke
he got off some good cracks
that's a good one
d.
(1) : not small or insignificant : comfortably large : considerable
quite a good crowd down here today — Greville Texidor
outpointed the three-time national champion … by a good margin — Current Biography
made a good profit
(2) : allowing enough time and usually to spare : sufficiently early : ample
hoped to be … home in good time for 7:30 supper — Dorothy Sayers
help came in good season
(3) : full — used as a qualifier to indicate a quantity not less and generally greater than the stated figure
the earrings are a good inch long — Lois Long
she was making a good twenty-five knots — Wirt Williams
weighs a good 200 pounds — Current Biography
a good four hours nightly — Eleanor S. Lowman
(4) — used as an intensive
took to reading in good earnest
I have known him for a good many years
dealt him a good stiff blow
I didn't give a good continental — Eudora Welty
(5) : half resolved or fixed upon
I got a good mind not to tell you — J.G.Cozzens
she had a good notion to thrash the boy
e.
(1) : having a basis in fact or logic : well-founded , cogent
had good reason to distrust him
offered some good arguments in debate
gave a good excuse for his lateness
(2) : not disproved or refuted — often used in the phrase hold good
it will hold good when hundreds of cleverer … systems have vanished — J.C.Powys
the same thing holds good for society at large — J.J.Chapman
(3) : not potential or possible but actual : existing in fact : real
the much-boosted prospect of oil … has not come good — Sydney (Australia) Bulletin
— often used in the phrase make good
has made his promises good
(4) : having binding effect or force : recognized, honored
this offer is good only on orders sent direct to the publisher — Current History
coupons good … at the local photographers — Current Biography
a refreshment coupon good for either a drink or a cigar — C.F.Wittke
a union member in good standing
(5) : valid or effectual for the transfer of title or the creation or vesting of rights
a good deed
a good tender
a good delivery
(6) : true 3b(1) ; also : valid 5
(7) : landing within the proper part of the court especially in racket and net games and therefore in play — used especially of a ball
f.
(1) : conforming to the needs or requirements of the case : adequate , sufficient , satisfactory
took good care of his men
gave a good account of himself in battle
fetched him a good blow
made good speed on the homeward journey
sentimental history … revels in a good cry — Albert Guerard
made good use of his time
let me have a good look at you — T.B.Costain
(2) : conforming to or attaining a certain standard of correctness, competence, skill, or excellence
speaks good English
plays a good game of tennis
good but not brilliant verse
good manners
good form
(3) : discriminating , choice
he shows unerring good taste
(4) : better than average but short of excellent — used of scholastic work
(5) : containing more lean muscle and less fat than higher grades — used of meat, especially beef
2.
a.
(1) : conforming to a certain ideal or standard of morality or virtue : wholly commendable : virtuous , pure
good works
a truly good man
a good conscience
would only date good girls
good conduct is its own reward
specifically : possessing either absolute or intrinsic value
(2) : conforming to some abstract standard or ideal (as of prudent conduct or proper condition) : right , desirable , wise
do what you think good
it is not good to fritter away one's time
it is good to love and be loved
(3) : directed or tending toward the welfare of another : benevolent , friendly , amiable
be good enough to answer this letter promptly
did me a good turn
good intentions
you have my good wishes
sought to restore good feeling between England and her colonies
(4) : well-regarded : being without stain : fair , honorable
a good name
(5) : well-behaved : decorous
now, be a good boy
(6) : not sulky : not rancorous nor given to complaint : not troublesome : gracious
a good loser
a good patient
b.
(1) : belonging to the aristocracy or socially distinguished class : noble , respectable
sardonic jabs at smug good families — Margaret Willis
good blood flowed in his veins — Frank Yerby
: conferring or enhancing social prestige or respectability
a comparatively new family … but had made good marriages — A.I.Macnaghten
would need an apartment with a good address — Morley Callaghan
(2) archaic : worshipful , worthy — used as a conventional epithet in addressing persons of high rank
(3) : dear , kind , excellent — used as a conventional epithet in courteous address or respectful reference
my good sir
(4) — used of a ship or town as a conventional epithet
the good town of Edinburgh
sailed on the good ship Enterprise
(5) chiefly Scotland : standing in the relationship of an in-law of a specified kind
good brother
good sister
c.
(1) : having or demonstrating the qualities or skills requisite or appropriate in a specified capacity or occupation
a good doctor
a good soldier
a good housewife
(2) : competent , skillful , adroit
very good with children
good at tennis
very good at dancing
(3) : sound or faithful in doctrine or belief : orthodox
a good Catholic
•
- as good as
- as good as gold
- good and
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gōd, from gōd, adjective
1.
a. : something that possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, or is otherwise beneficial
teach a child to know good from evil
b. : something that satisfies or commends itself to the ethical consciousness or is conceived as fitting in the moral order of the universe:
(1) : something that is either an end in itself or a means to such an end
among the concrete goods traditionally nominated for the position of highest good of all … are happiness and self-realization — Lucius Garvin
(2) : the character of human beings or of their attitudes, motives, and actions that is morally praiseworthy — compare ethics
c. : the good element or portion of anything
cherished the good in him, overlooking the bad
2. : advancement of interest or happiness : welfare , prosperity , advantage , benefit
worked for the good of the whole community
what is the good of idle debate
3.
a. : a particular advantage or benefit : an object of desire or endeavor : something beneficial ; specifically : something that has economic utility or satisfies an economic want
b. goods plural : tangible movable personal property having intrinsic value usually excluding money and other choses in action but sometimes including all personal property and occasionally including vessels and even industrial crops or emblements, buildings, or other things affixed to real estate but agreed to be severed : chattels, wares, merchandise, food products, chemical compounds, and agricultural products
household goods
baked goods
c. goods plural but sometimes singular in construction : cloth — compare dress goods , dry goods
d. goods plural , Britain : freight
heavier classes of goods vehicles
a goods train
e. goods plural : the contents of the mash tub when the mashing process in brewing has been completed
f. : official grade for meat of medium quality
4.
a. : good persons — used with the
the good die young
b. : one that is good
if it's any good you'll pay a lot for it
she was no particular good — Ethel Wilson
that's no good ; it won't work
I have no use for him; he's no good
5. goods plural but sometimes singular in construction
a. : something that comes up to expectations or requirements : the genuine article
a youthful work … but it is the goods — Arnold Bennett
b. : the qualities required of one or necessary to accomplish a desired end
that boy has the goods
c. : evidence or proof of wrongdoing
didn't have the goods on him — T.G.Cooke
•
- for good
- in good with
- to the good
III. adverb
( better “ ; best “)
Etymology: Middle English, from good, adjective
1.
a. : in a satisfactory, competent, or adequate manner : well
he showed me how good I was doing — Herbert Gold
worked here once and did real good
don't you hear so good , teacher — W.B.Marsh
— not often in formal use
b. : prosperously , nicely
hope you … are well and getting along good — Walt Whitman
2. chiefly dialect : totally , thoroughly , completely
when it got good dark — F.B.Gipson
•
- as good
- as good as