GOODNESS

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Moral excellence or admirableness

Example:

there is much good to be found in people

Synonyms:

good; goodness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("goodness" is a kind of...):

morality (concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct)

Attribute:

good (morally admirable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "goodness"):

kindness (the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic)

beneficence (the quality of being kind or helpful or generous)

benignancy; benignity; graciousness (the quality of being kind and gentle)

moral excellence; virtue; virtuousness (the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong)

virtue (a particular moral excellence)

saintliness (the quality of resembling a saint)

summum bonum (the supreme good in which all moral values are included or from which they are derived)

Antonym:

evilness (the quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice)

Derivation:

good (morally admirable)

good (deserving of esteem and respect)

good (of moral excellence)

Sense 2

Meaning:

That which is pleasing or valuable or useful

Example:

among the highest goods of all are happiness and self-realization

Synonyms:

good; goodness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("goodness" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "goodness"):

worthiness (the quality or state of having merit or value)

desirability; desirableness (the quality of being worthy of desiring)

benefit; welfare (something that aids or promotes well-being)

better (something superior in quality or condition or effect)

better (the superior one of two alternatives)

optimum (most favorable conditions or greatest degree or amount possible under given circumstances)

soundness; wisdom; wiseness (the quality of being prudent and sensible)

Antonym:

badness (that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency)

Derivation:

good (promoting or enhancing well-being)

good (having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified)

good (tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health)

good (appealing to the mind)

good (most suitable or right for a particular purpose)

Credits

Context examples:

No, replied he, with sudden consciousness, not to find it in YOU; for I cannot be ignorant that to you, to your goodness, I owe it all.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

My daughter and I are both highly sensible of your goodness, and have the greatest satisfaction in seeing you at Hartfield.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Fanny's beauty of face and figure, Fanny's graces of manner and goodness of heart, were the exhaustless theme.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

If such goodness does not make her miserable now, she will never deserve to be happy!

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Well, now I tell you, I never seen good come o' goodness yet.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

At last the third also came with the like intent, and the others screamed out: “Keep away; for goodness’ sake keep away!”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Miss Morland, do not mind what he says; but have the goodness to satisfy me as to this dreadful riot.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He can be of essential service to me; and if you would have the goodness, my dear Miss Elliot, to make it an object to yourself, of course it is done.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I think, Sir Fernando, since the prince's bounty is stretched so far, that we may make further use of his gracious goodness to the extent of fifty thousand crowns.