good·ness

good·ness
/ˈgʊdnəs/ noun [noncount]
1 : the quality or state of being good: such as
1 a : the quality or state of being kind, honest, generous, helpful, etc.

I believe there is (some) goodness in everyone.

Even if you don't agree, at least have the goodness to be polite!

She agreed to help him out of the goodness of her heart. [=because she is a kind and generous person]

1 b : the quality or state of being useful or effective

If you cook the vegetables too long, they'll lose all their (natural) goodness.

2
— used to express mild surprise or shock

Goodness, it's hot out today!

Goodness (only) knows how it happened.

“Did you stop them?” “Goodness (gracious), no!”

Oh, my goodness!

◇ People use I swear to goodness, I hope to goodness, or I wish to goodness to add force to a statement.

I wish to goodness that you would hurry up!

— used to express surprise or annoyance

Will you hurry up, for goodness' sake?

goodness knows — see ↑know, 1

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • good|ness — «GUD nihs», noun, interjection. –n. 1. the quality or state of being good: »The drama of men is that their goodness creates, and their wickedness shatters, the goodness of others; so that pity holds us ever in leash (Freya Madeleine Stark). 2.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • hon|est-to-good|ness — «ON ihs tu GUD nihs», adjective. Informal. genuine …   Useful english dictionary

  • good — be·good; good; good·ing; good·ish; good·li·ness; good·ly; good·man; good·ness; good·wife; good·will·it; good·year; good·yera; …   English syllables

  • ness — ness·ber·ry; ness·ler·iza·tion; ness·ler·ize; ness·ler s; new·fan·gled·ness; new·ness; news·i·ness; nice·ness; nig·gard·li·ness; nig·gard·ness; nigh·ness; nip·pi·ness; no·ble·ness; nois·i·ness; non·cha·lant·ness; north·er·li·ness; north·ness;… …   English syllables

  • Ness (Irish mythology) — Ness (Irish: Neasa; Old Irish: Neas), also called Nessa, is a princess of the Ulaid and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her father is Eochaid Sálbuide, king of the Ulaid. According to one version of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Good Hands Records — is an independent Hip hop record label founded in 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by DJ Truth (b. Charley Greenberg) and Art Beeswax (b. Lawrence Maley). In 2006, Good Hands secured a distribution deal with Traffic Entertainment Group and… …   Wikipedia

  • good´-hu´mored|ness — good hu|mored «GUD HYOO muhrd, YOO », adjective. having good humor; cheerful; pleasant; amiable: »It is a good humored book, full of energy, and ending in contentment for everybody (New Yorker). SYNONYM(S): genial. –good´ hu´mored|ly, adverb.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • good´-na´tured|ness — good na|tured «GUD NAY chuhrd», adjective. having a pleasant disposition; kindly; cheerful; obliging; agreeable: »He overlooked the criticism with a good natured smile. SYNONYM(S): good humored, pleasant. –good´ na´tured|ly, adverb. –good´… …   Useful english dictionary

  • good´-heart´ed|ness — good heart|ed «GUD HAHR tihd», adjective. kind and generous. –good´ heart´ed|ly, adverb. –good´ heart´ed|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • good-neigh|bor|li|ness — «GUD NAY buhr lee nihs», noun. the disposition and behavior characteristic of a good neighbor; friendly feeling and relation: »Trade hungry Japan hoped such evidence of good neighborliness would dispel Filipino suspicions and open the way to… …   Useful english dictionary

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