See Also: goodness of fit(medicine)
goodness(dictionary)
goodness(dictionary)
goodness of fit test(medicine)
honest-to-goodness(dictionary)

goodness (iou)



goodness noun.
[Old English godnes: see GOOD adjective, -NESS.]
The quality or condition of being good; excellence in respect of some quality; moral virtue. OE.
W. Temple Goodness..makes men prefer their Duty..before their Passions. T. Jefferson Our superiority in the goodness, though not in the number of our cavalry.
Benevolence, beneficence (freq. that of God); kindness, generosity; clemency. OE.
for goodness' sake!, goodness!, goodness gracious!, goodness knows, goodness only knows, I wish to goodness!, surely to goodness!, thank goodness!, etc.
G. Burnet Goodness is an inclination to promote the Happiness of others. J. Wesley I sing the goodness of the Lord, the goodness I experience. L. Sterne Have the goodness, madam..to step in. In various exclamatory phrases:
a. Advantage, profit. ME-L16.
b. A good act or deed. Long rare or obsolete. ME.
(Freq. with the.) That which is good in anything; the strength or essence of something. L16.
Times The liquor in which canned vegetables are packed..contains flavour and goodness from the vegetables.