Good nature

Good nature
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-nature — 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Good nature — Nature Na ture (?; 135), n. [F., fr. L. natura, fr. natus born, produced, p. p. of nasci to be born. See {Nation}.] 1. The existing system of things; the universe of matter, energy, time and space; the physical world; all of creation. Contrasted… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • good nature — n [U] a naturally kind and helpful character or attitude to people ▪ He had his father s good looks and his mother s good nature …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • good nature — index benevolence (disposition to do good), goodwill, philanthropy Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • good nature — n. a pleasant, agreeable, or kindly disposition; amiability; geniality …   English World dictionary

  • good nature — {n.} Readiness to please others and to be pleased. Cheerfulness, pleasantness. * /Everybody likes Mr. Crowe because of his good nature./ * /Miss Reynolds was remembered by her students for her good nature./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • good nature — {n.} Readiness to please others and to be pleased. Cheerfulness, pleasantness. * /Everybody likes Mr. Crowe because of his good nature./ * /Miss Reynolds was remembered by her students for her good nature./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Good Nature — Infobox Album | Name = Good Nature Type = Studio Artist = Youthmovies Released = flagicon|UK March 17 2008 Genre = Math rock Post Rock Label = Drowned in Sound (UK) Reviews = * Rockfeedback Rating|3|5… …   Wikipedia

  • good\ nature — noun Readiness to please others and to be pleased. Cheerfulness, pleasantness. Everybody likes Mr. Crowe because of his good nature. Miss Reynolds was remembered by her students for her good nature …   Словарь американских идиом

  • good nature — /gʊd ˈneɪtʃə/ (say good naychuh) noun pleasant disposition; cheerful nature …  

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