a. [ Compar. Better superl. Best These words, though used as the comparative and superlative of good, are from a different root. ] [ AS. Gōd, akin to D. goed, OS. gōd, OHG. guot, G. gut, Icel. gōðr, Sw. & Dan. god, Goth. gōds; prob. orig., fitting, belonging together, and akin to E. gather. √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 ]

☞ 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 ]

n. 1. That which possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, is serviceable, fit, excellent, kind, benevolent, etc.; -- opposed to evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

There be many that say, Who will show us any good ? Ps. iv. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Advancement of interest or happiness; welfare; prosperity; advantage; benefit; -- opposed to harm, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The good of the whole community can be promoted only by advancing the good of each of the members composing it. Jay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. Wares; commodities; chattels; -- formerly used in the singular in a collective sense. In law, a comprehensive name for almost all personal property as distinguished from land or real property. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He hath made us spend much good. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
Unto the state of Venice. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dress goods,
Dry goods, etc. See in the Vocabulary. --
Goods engine, a freight locomotive. [ Eng. ] --
Goods train, a freight train. [ Eng. ] --
Goods wagon, a freight car [ Eng. ] See the Note under Car, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Well, -- especially in the phrase as good, with a following as expressed or implied; equally well with as much advantage or as little harm as possible. [ 1913 Webster ]

As good almost kill a man as kill a good book. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

As good as, in effect; virtually; the same as. [ 1913 Webster ]

They who counsel ye to such a suppressing, do as good as bid ye suppress yourselves. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To make good; to turn to good. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To manure; to improve. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall.

{ } n. or interj. [ A contraction of God be with ye (God be w&ibreve_; ye, God bw' ye, God bwye). ] Farewell; a form of address used at parting. See the last Note under By, prep. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

interj. [ Corrupt. of good e'en, for good evening. ] A form of salutation. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Agreeable companionship; companionableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) Same as Gudgeon, 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. benevolent. malevolent
Syn. -- kind, kindly, openhearted. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

a. Having a cheerful spirit and demeanor; cheerful; good-tempered. See Good-natured. [ wns=2 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disposed to please. [ wns=1 ]
Syn. -- amiable, agreeable, good-humored, likable, likeable. [ WordNet 1.5 ]