Goodness

  • 1goodness — goodness, virtue, rectitude, morality are comparable and very general terms denoting moral excellence. Goodness is the broadest of these terms; it suggests an excellence so deeply established that it is often felt as inherent or innate rather… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 2Goodness! — | ˌGoodness ˈme! | ˌMy ˈgoodness! | ˌGoodness ˈgracious! idiom (informal) used to express surprise • Goodness, what a big balloon! • My goodness, you have been busy! …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 3Goodness me! — Goodness! | ˌGoodness ˈme! | ˌMy ˈgoodness! | ˌGoodness ˈgracious! idiom (informal) used to express surprise • Goodness, what a big balloon! • My goodness, you have been busy! …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 4Goodness — Good ness, n. [AS. g[=o]dnes.] The quality of being good in any of its various senses; excellence; virtue; kindness; benevolence; as, the goodness of timber, of a soil, of food; goodness of character, of disposition, of conduct, etc. [1913… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5goodness — O.E. godnes goodness, virtue, kindliness; see GOOD (Cf. good) (adj.) + NESS (Cf. ness). In exclamations from 1610s, first recorded being for goodnesse sake, i.e. as you trust in the goodness of God …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6goodness — [good′nis] n. [ME goodnesse < OE godnes] 1. the state or quality of being good; specif., a) virtue; excellence b) kindness; generosity; benevolence 2. the best part, essence, or valuable element of a thing interj. used to express surprise or… …

    English World dictionary

  • 7goodness — index benevolence (disposition to do good), decorum, ethics, good faith, honor (good reputation), integrity, merit …

    Law dictionary

  • 8goodness — [n] decency, excellence advantage, beneficence, benefit, benevolence, ethicality, friendliness, generosity, good will, grace, graciousness, honesty, honor, humaneness, integrity, kindheartedness, kindliness, kindness, mercy, merit, morality,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 9goodness — ► NOUN 1) the quality of being good. 2) the nutritious element of food. ► EXCLAMATION ▪ (as a substitution for ‘God’) expressing surprise, anger, etc …

    English terms dictionary

  • 10goodness — good|ness S2 [ˈgudnıs] n [U] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1 my goodness!/goodness (gracious) me! 2 for goodness sake 3 goodness (only) knows 4¦(being good)¦ 5¦(best part)¦ 6 have the goodness to do something 7 out of the goodness of somebody s heart ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) …

    Dictionary of contemporary English