| / English Dictionary |
GOOD WILL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A disposition to kindness and compassion
Example:
the victor's grace in treating the vanquished
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("good will" is a kind of...):
good nature (a cheerful, obliging disposition)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The friendly hope that something will succeed
Synonyms:
good will; goodwill
Classified under:
Nouns denoting feelings and emotions
Hypernyms ("good will" is a kind of...):
friendliness (a feeling of liking for another person; enjoyment in their company)
Sense 3
Meaning:
(accounting) an intangible asset valued according to the advantage or reputation a business has acquired (over and above its tangible assets)
Synonyms:
good will; goodwill
Classified under:
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession
Hypernyms ("good will" is a kind of...):
intangible; intangible asset (assets that are saleable though not material or physical)
Domain category:
accounting (a system that provides quantitative information about finances)
Context examples:
She began to see that character is a better possession than money, rank, intellect, or beauty, and to feel that if greatness is what a wise man has defined it to be, 'truth, reverence, and good will', then her friend Friedrich Bhaer was not only good, but great.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted, with a very earnest assurance on HER side of her unceasing good wishes for his happiness in every change of situation that might befall him; on HIS, with rather an attempt to return the same good will, than the power of expressing it.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
The disproportion in their fortune was nothing; it did not give her a moment's regret; but to have no family to receive and estimate him properly, nothing of respectability, of harmony, of good will to offer in return for all the worth and all the prompt welcome which met her in his brothers and sisters, was a source of as lively pain as her mind could well be sensible of under circumstances of otherwise strong felicity.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
By St. Paul! cried Sir Nigel, I think that it is even as you say, for that same peasant had a sour face and a shifting eye, as one who bore us little good will.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Hence, we soon became warmly attached to it—I am sure I did for one, and I never knew, in all my time, of any other boy being otherwise—and learnt with a good will, desiring to do it credit.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Framed in a brilliant scrollwork of scarlet, blue and gold, with little spirits of good will helping one another up and down among the thorns and flowers, were the words, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
They were relieved however, not by her own recollection, but by the good will of Lucy, who believed herself to be inflicting a severe disappointment when she told her that Edward certainly would not be in Harley Street on Tuesday, and even hoped to be carrying the pain still farther by persuading her that he was kept away by the extreme affection for herself, which he could not conceal when they were together.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Believing that they could not begin too early to cultivate energy, industry, and independence, their parents consented, and both fell to work with the hearty good will which in spite of all obstacles is sure to succeed at last.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
A burnt offering has been made to vanity, this hardened palm has earned something better than blisters, and I'm sure the sewing done by these pricked fingers will last a long time, so much good will went into the stitches.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Laurie turned red again, but wasn't offended at being accused of bashfulness, for there was so much good will in Jo it was impossible not to take her blunt speeches as kindly as they were meant.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
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