Good will

Good will
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}.] [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster]

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. --Gen. i. 31. [1913 Webster]

Good company, good wine, good welcome. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious; religious; -- said of persons or actions. [1913 Webster]

In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works. --Tit. ii. 7. [1913 Webster]

3. Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite; propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by to or toward, also formerly by unto. [1913 Webster]

The men were very good unto us. --1 Sam. xxv. 15. [1913 Webster]

4. Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be relied upon; -- followed especially by for. [1913 Webster]

All quality that is good for anything is founded originally in merit. --Collier. [1913 Webster]

5. Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed especially by at. [1913 Webster]

He . . . is a good workman; a very good tailor. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Those are generally good at flattering who are good for nothing else. --South. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

My reasons are both good and weighty. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

My meaning in saying he is a good man is . . . that he is sufficient . . . I think I may take his bond. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

7. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest; in good sooth. [1913 Webster]

Love no man in good earnest. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

9. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete. [1913 Webster]

Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. --Luke vi. 38. [1913 Webster]

10. Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied; as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good repute, etc. [1913 Webster]

A good name is better than precious ointment. --Eccl. vii. 1. [1913 Webster]

{As good as}. See under {As}.

{For good}, or {For good and all}, completely and finally; fully; truly. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

The good nature and generosity which belonged to his character. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Each word made good and true. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Of no power to make his wishes good. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

I . . . would by combat make her good. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Convenient numbers to make good the city. --Shak.

{To think good}, to approve; to be pleased or satisfied with; to consider expedient or proper. [1913 Webster]

If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. --Zech. xi. 12. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • good-will — good will, 1. kindly or friendly feeling; kindness; friendliness: »Our cast of principal characters is composed almost…entirely of men of good will (Forum). SYNONYM(S): See syn. under favor. (Cf. ↑favor) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Good will — Will Will, n. [OE. wille, AS. willa; akin to OFries. willa, OS. willeo, willio, D. wil, G. wille, Icel. vili, Dan. villie, Sw. vilja, Goth wilja. See {Will}, v.] [1913 Webster] 1. The power of choosing; the faculty or endowment of the soul by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • good will — good will, goodwill Good will means ‘the intention and hope that good will result’ (and is hyphened in attributive position, i.e. before a noun as in a good will gesture); goodwill is ‘the established reputation of a business etc. as enhancing… …   Modern English usage

  • good will — index affinity (regard), benevolence (disposition to do good), charity, clemency, comity, humanity (humaneness) …   Law dictionary

  • good will — / goodwill [n] kindliness altruism, amity, benevolence, brownie points*, charity, comity, cordiality, favor, friendliness, friendship, generosity, good deed, good side of*, helpfulness, rapport, right side of*, sympathy, tolerance; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • good will — O.E. godes willan “virtuous, pious, upright,” also “state of wishing well to another.” One word form goodwill (18c.) is used especially in commercial senses …   Etymology dictionary

  • good|will|y — «GUD WIHL ee», adjective. Scottish. 1. liberal (of). 2. cordial …   Useful english dictionary

  • good will — noun 1. a disposition to kindness and compassion (Freq. 5) the victor s grace in treating the vanquished • Syn: ↑grace, ↑goodwill • Derivationally related forms: ↑gracious (for: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • good will — In the usage of Kant, a good will is the unconditional, intrinsic good, independently of what it ‘effects or accomplishes’ in the world (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals ). It is the determination to act in accordance with the law of… …   Philosophy dictionary

  • good·will — /ˌgʊdˈwıl/ noun [noncount] 1 or good will : a kind, helpful, or friendly feeling or attitude She has/feels goodwill toward all her coworkers. They allowed him to keep the extra money as a gesture of goodwill. trying to promote …   Useful english dictionary

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