goodnessn.
/ˈɡʊdnəs/, U.S. /ˈɡʊdnəs/ 1.
a. The quality of being morally good; virtue; worthiness. In early use also spec.: piety.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > [noun] > moral excellence
goodwilleOE
goodnesseOE
thewnessc1200
goodlaikc1225
goodheadc1275
honestete1340
bountyc1386
goodliheada1393
prowessc1395
honestyc1400
goodliness1405
virtuosityc1443
virtuousnessc1449
virtueheada1456
good naturec1475
integrity1548
honestness1556
graciousness1591
saintship1613
gracefulness1619
saintliness1838
te1895
virtu1906
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) (2009) I. xxvi. 503 Ðæs godan godnes [L. probitas] bið his agen good and his agen edlean.
OE Wulfstan Cena Domini 236 We rædað on bocum þæt for Adames godnesse & for his halignesse God hine gelogode on fruman in paradyso.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 81 Þes patriarches..gode men weren..and al þos godnesse hom ne mihte werien, þet ho ne wenden alle in to helle.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 739 Þe king of france hurde telle of ire godnesse & bed hire fader granti him þe gode cordeile.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 94 Nou ich þe habbe aboue yssewed..þe worþ and þe guodnesse of uirtu.
?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 30 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 53 Temple of our lord and roote of al goodnesse!
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 4783 To bryng his folk to gudnes.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 135 Goodnes & bounte is betre than fayrenes & beaulte.
1539 T. Cromwell in R. B. Merriman Life & Lett. T. Cromwell (1902) II. 174 It is not to be doubted, but whenne all the rest shulde be agreed, no man wold styck nor staye for any parte concerning her beautie and goodnes.
1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 175 Idlenes annihilateth and corrupteth the goodnes of nature.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 210 Vertue is bold, and goodnes neuer fearefull. View more context for this quotation
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iii. §9. 202 Circumstances make much to the goodnesse or badnesse of an action.
1680 W. Temple Ess. Orig. & Nature Govt. in Wks. (1731) I. 98 Goodness, is that which makes Men prefer their Duty and their Promise before their Passions, or their Interest.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. lvii. 229 Your beauty fills me with wonder! your understanding with ravishment, and your goodness with adoration!
1789 J. Bentham Introd. Princ. Morals & Legisl. viii. p. lxxxiv It is frequent to hear men speak of a good intention, of a bad intention; of the goodness and badness of a man's intention.
1870 F. M. Müller Sci. Relig. (1873) 2 Such was the goodness of the cause I had then to defend.
1876 J. B. Mozley Serm. preached Univ. of Oxf. iv. 85 Gifts of the intellect and imagination..do not constitute moral goodness.
1969 G. Vlastos in Phoenix 23 75 Most cases of acrasia occur when the agent is only half convinced of the goodness of an action.
2005 Cineaste Spring 46/2 Estheticization seems at odds with the cruelty of the events defining genocide, and moral goodness remains irreconcilable with either this massive crime or the inaction of its witnesses.
b. A good quality; a merit, a virtue.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > [noun] > a virtue
goodOE
custOE
goodnessOE
mightOE
mightOE
thew?c1225
virtuec1225
gracea1393
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 338 Iob..wæs swa fulfremed on eallum godnyssum þæt god sylf cwæð be him, þæt his gelica nære ða on ðam life ofer eorðan.
c1175 ( Ælfric's Homily on Nativity of Christ (Bodl. 343) in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 86 We nabbæð nane godnesse buton hit us cume of Gode.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 175 (MED) Þe ypocrites..telleþ hire guodnesses and wryeþ hare kueadnesses.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 10086 (MED) Ful leef was vs þat lady lele þat godenesses [Gött. bountes] bare in hir so fele.
c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1927) 2 Love may not be had anentis eny persoone wiþoute knowing..þilk persoone to be such oon in noble condiciouns..and goodnessis for whiche he is worþi or ouȝt to be loued.
1571 E. Grant tr. Plutarch President for Parentes sig. C.viiv Beautie is a goodnesse fraile.
1643 J. Ley Monitor of Mortality 22 Her Piety was not a goodnesse of the scant measure of many of the world, who allow God but some part or portion of their lives.
1693 tr. C. G. La Mothe Two Disc. Ep. Ded. Indefatigably Vigilant, Valiant, and Couragious in Action; these Great Qualities being joined to a Goodness, that made Access to him always easy.
1787 R. Bage Fair Syrian I. 165 What the devil can an Irish girl know, except praying and pudding-making, and such-like grand-motherly goodnesses?
1840 J. S. Mill Diss. & Disc. (1859) II. 69. (note) Fewer small goodnesses, but more greatness.
1860 D. M. M. Craik Poems 95 Mine, my own, without doubts or terrors, With all thy goodnesses, all thy errors, Unto me and to me alone reveal'd.
1952 T. A. Sinclair Hist. Greek Polit. Thought xi. 234 The goodness of the good man was one, while citizens needed many different goodnesses.
2009 W. T. Vollmann Imperial xi. 171 Among the people whom I myself overlooked, there might be Félicités, whose hidden goodnesses would do me good to find.
c. General excellence of standard or level; effectiveness or usefulness for a particular purpose; (now usually comparatively) the degree of excellence or usefulness of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the quality of something.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun]
goodnessOE
mund?c1250
daintethc1290
bountyc1300
daintyc1300
excellencec1384
virtuea1393
excellency?a1400
nobilitya1400
meritc1425
singularity?c1450
fineness1523
admirationa1533
rareness1545
rightness1561
rariety1566
rarity1566
excellentness1569
beautya1586
admirableness1607
primeness1611
gallantry1650
eximiety1656
optimity1656
altesse1660
unexceptionableness1669
excellingness1701
quality1803
sterlingness1815
stupendosity1828
goodliness1832
superbness1832
unexceptionability1837
sweetness and light1867
class1884
rortiness1885
rippingness1903
superstardom1928
motherfucker1977
awesomeness1998
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xix. 333 Ðær ne bið nan untrumnyss.., ne wana nanre godnysse, ac crist bið mid us eallum, & us ealle þing deð buton edwite.
lOE tr. Honorius Augustodunensis Elucidarium in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 142 Syððen þa ateorigendlice þing byð swa behefe..to brucane, wel swyðe mycele betere..byð þa heofonlice welen, þe..æfre þurhwunigeð on godnysse.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 99 Þis bene paseþ alle oþre ine..dignete, in ssorthede, an ine guodnesse [c1450 Bk. Vices & Virtues profitabelnesse].
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iii. xvii. 112 Þe vertu of þe siȝt is feble oþir strong by goodnes oþir feblenesse of þe lyme.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 105 The quhilkis twa thingis makis all the gudenes of the felde jn bataill.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer Prol. f. cccxxv Of the goodnesse or of the badnesse of the sentence take they lytel hede or els none.
1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health cxciv. 153 The goodnes of the pasture helpeth much to the goodnes of the milke.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvi. 146 Depending..on the goodnesse of a mans own naturall Reason.
1719 G. London & H. Wise J. de la Quintinie's Compl. Gard'ner (ed. 7) 221 The Lettuces are gather'd first, and afterwards the Endives arrive to their full Goodness.
1781 T. Jefferson Let. 8 Mar. in Papers (1952) V. 103 Our superiority in the goodness, tho not the number of our cavalry prevented the enemy from moving with rapidity.
1812 R. Woodhouse Elem. Treat. Astron. xliii. 429 Telescopes of the same power and goodness.
1841 H. J. Stephen New Comm. Laws Eng. I. 45 The goodness of a custom depends upon its having been used time out of mind.
1903 Biometrika 2 273 Unfortunately custom has not taken this standard deviation as the measure of the goodness of the sample.
1983 R. Bernen Hills 24 Another farmer..disagreed in anger. It would destroy the goodness of the blade, he said.
1990 .EXE Mag. Apr. 44/1 They were researching software metrics—numerical measures of the goodness of a computer system.
2. Desire for the happiness of another; kindness, generosity; benevolence, beneficence.
a. As an attribute of God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit. Also occasionally as an attribute of the Virgin Mary. Cf. mercy n. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > nature or attributes of God > [noun] > goodness or excellence
goodnessOE
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 376 God is eall godnyss, and he æfre wel wile.
lOE St. Neot (Vesp.) in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 130 Þan þe heora synnen andetten wolden & æfre geswican, he behet Godes godnysse & his mildheortnysse.
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 83 Nu ic bidde ðe, for ðine michele godnesse.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 853 Til Cristes moder..Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse To make an ende of al hir heuynesse.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) iv. xii. f. lxiijv We owen nought for his goodnesse to done hym vnryght.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. iv. 57 I thank the, Lord, well of goodnes.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Biiii The goodnesse of god..hath ordayned, that [etc.].
1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 101 As Power is ascribed to the Father, and Wisedome to the Sonne; so is Goodnesse to the Holy Ghost.
1662 Bk. Common Prayer Prayer for all Conditions of Men We commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted.
1699 Bp. G. Burnet Expos. 39 Articles (1700) i. 29 The chief Act and Design of Goodness, is the making us truly good.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) xiii. x I sing the goodness of the Lord, The goodness I experience now.
1793 P. Bernard tr. J. Bernard On Excellence Christian Relig. iii. v. 253 Ravished into admiration at the goodness of our God, let us cry out with the Psalmist.
1827 C. Bridges Expos. Psalm cxix. (1830) 183 The acts of God are nothing else but the effluxes of his goodness.
1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 562 Goodness is that attribute of God, whereby He loveth to communicate to all, who can or will receive it, all good.
1917 C. E. Herring Relig. Mod. Protestant xi. 69 Faith..is more than mere intellectual assent to the goodness of Christ and the excellence of His Gospel.
2008 Church Times 29 Aug. 19/3 How does God's goodness sit with his call for the destruction of the Moabites and the Amalekites?
b. As a personal quality or virtue. Frequently in to have the goodness to do something at Phrases 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [noun]
goodshipOE
goodnessOE
well-willingnessOE
goodlaikc1175
charity?c1225
courtesy1297
kindnessc1300
meeknessc1300
kindheada1325
benignityc1374
benevolencec1384
kindshipa1393
betternessa1400
homeliness1402
goodliness1405
courteousnessc1430
kindliness1440
kindlaikc1450
beneficialness1528
beneficence1531
benevolency1545
beneficency1576
kindheartedness1583
benefiting1594
candidness1643
benefacture1651
geniality1652
candour1653
hearta1656
obliging1676
benevolentness1736
affectionateness1751
warm-heartedness1808
Samaritanism1843
sweet-heartedness1865
benignancy1876
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxxiv. 292 Se halga hi eft alysde and let hi forð gan for his godnysse.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 10426 Quen þat þar day was cumyn of þe fest, þan men suld bolde þaim to be blith, And ilk man his godness to kith.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (2003) §774 We preyen yow & biseken yow..þt it like vn to youre grete goodnesse to fulfille in dede youre goodliche wordes.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. xxxiiiiv The kynge of hys goodnes remitted their offence, and restored them to their libertie.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 264 Your great Goodnesse, out of holy pitty, Absolu'd him with an Axe. View more context for this quotation
1680 Bp. G. Burnet Some Passages Life Rochester (1692) 55 Goodness is an inclination to promote the Happiness of others.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison VI. xxix. 187 Can you think it an unpardonable intrusion on your condescending goodness?
1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne i. 20 Mary received him with goodness.
1817 S. Beazley My Uncle 24 Permit me to express my joy..at the first sight of an Uncle, who has out-Uncled all other Uncles, in his goodness to his nephews.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xii. 221 The indulgence, he said, was grossly abused:..his Majesty would soon have reason to repent his goodness.
1904 Smart Set May 91/2 Having some curiosity to behold this man who had shown such goodness to my sister, I remained with Juliette as she asked me.
1994 E. C. Vacek Love, Human & Divine v. 180 A good teacher wants to share her knowledge... Whence this spontaneous goodness to others?
3. A good deed, act, or work; esp. (in early use) an act of piety; (later) a good turn, a favour, a kindness. Formerly also as a mass noun: †good deeds collectively; kindnesses (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > [noun] > right action or well-doing > the doing of good deeds > a good deed
goodeOE
gooddeedOE
goodnessOE
good workOE
almosec1330
benefit1377
goodshipa1393
alms-deed1425
alms?a1439
desert1563
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 318 He þancode ða Gode eallra his godnyssa, þæt he hine gescylde wið þone swicolan deofol, and him sige forgeaf.
OE Ælfric 1st Let. to Wulfstan (Corpus Cambr. 190) in B. Fehr Die Hirtenbriefe Ælfrics (1914) 82 Habban us on handum halige weorc, symle on ælmesdædum and on eallum godnyssum.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) Pref. 180 Mann maȝȝ upp o goddspell boc. Godnessess findenn seffne. Þatt ure laferrd iesu crist. Vss hafeþþ don onn erþe.
c1300 St. Brendan (Harl.) (1844) 25 For no godnisse that ich habbe i-do, bote of oure Loverdes milce and ore.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8936 Þe godnesse, þat þe king henry & þe quene Mold Dude here to engelond, ne may neuere be told.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §687 A man is anoyed..for to doon any goodnesse.
c1450 (c1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) (1942) 13 (MED) Þey wole not knowe þe goodnesse þat God doþ hem alwey.
a1500 Disciplina Clericalis in Western Reserve Univ. Bull. (1919) 22 17 (MED) Remembryng also of the goodenes whiche he had done to hym in Egipt, thynkyng forwhi that after his deth he myght nat yield nor acquite hym his goode deede.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) xliii. 142 All the goodness and greate gyftes that I haue gyuen among you.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. lviii If thou woldest haue any goodnes done vnto the..likewyse shulde thou do vnto thy neighbour, if it lye in thy power.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 370 That he was right ioyous to be in his presence, trusting that some goodnesse should grow thereby.
1659 J. Davies tr. G. de Costes de La Calprenède Hymen's Præludia: 9th & 10th Pts. ix. iii. 144 Nothing hath been able to force out of my memory the resentment of your goodnesses.
1738 Inconsoleables ii. 33 Dear Sir, crown all your other undeserved Goodnesses; and keep it for me.
1789 J. Moore Zeluco I. xxxiii. 312 ‘My dear mother,’ cried Laura, with tears of affection, ‘how can I requite you for this goodness?’
1814 M. Leadbeater & E. Shackleton Tales for Cottagers 223 I pray that the young couple may be worthy of your goodnesses.
1860 J. H. Ingraham Throne of David xv. 504 Now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant.
1913 H. James Small Boy & Others ix. 120 The offered flowers or goodnesses..present themselves under his hand as but more subtly sinister..than the frank badnesses and horrors.
2007 G. Spencer Guardian of Veil iii. xiii. 132 We know of your goodnesses to Welken... We get news from our forest cousins.
a. A benefit, an advantage; a good or advantageous thing. Also as a mass noun, esp. in later use: benefit, advantage, profit. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > [noun]
fremea700
redeeOE
noteeOE
goodOE
goodnessOE
framec1175
winc1175
bihevec1230
behoofc1275
advantagec1300
prowc1300
wellc1300
wainc1315
profita1325
bewaynec1375
vantagec1380
goodshipc1390
prewa1400
steada1400
benefice1426
vailc1430
utilityc1440
of availc1450
prevaila1460
fordeal1470
winning1477
encherishingc1480
benefit1512
booty1581
emolument1633
handhold1655
withgate1825
cui bono1836
OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) lxii. 301 For godnyssum [L. beneficiis] Godes læcecræftes ne anfon hi eaðlices leanes.
lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 138 Eall hire wille hire is geforðed on godnysse [L. repletum est in bonis].
c1300 Childhood Jesus (Laud) l. 1581 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1875) 1st Ser. 52 Þoruȝ him schalt þo habbe hele, For he mai alle guodnesses dele.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 10598 (MED) Hys broþer had þe godenesse of hys song.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 718 He thoght þat thing forto stint, þat godd to gret goddnes had mint.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 85 Þe folk..wirschepez þe ox..for þe sympilnes and þe gudeness [?a1425 Titus profite; Fr. vtilitee] þat commez of him.
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) i. iv. sig. d.vi All ye goodnesses of grace of benediccion & of glory.
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Dviiiv A matter, whych..shoulde be..greate commodytye and goodnes to the openner of the same.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 46 Too turne too goodnesse this sight and merciles omen.
1658 J. Heydon New Method Rosie Crucian Physick xiv. 51 It divides and scatters..all distempered and hurtful things, and if they cannot be reconciled and turned to goodness, nature throws them out as dead, and unfruitful leavings.
b. Good fortune; prosperity. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > [noun]
selthc888
healc950
wealOE
goder-heala1225
prosperity?c1225
wealtha1300
statec1300
healtha1325
welfare1357
theedom1362
wealfulnessc1374
bonchiefa1387
felicity1393
boota1400
wella1400
wealsc1400
well-doingc1440
prosperancea1460
happiness?1473
quartfulness1483
brightnessa1500
goodnessa1500
sonsea1500
thriftiness?1529
prosperation1543
well-being1561
prosperousness1600
fair world1641
thrivingness1818
goldenness1829
palminess1875
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 199 In this wyse he knew god ayeyne in angwysche and in myssayse, whych he had foryetene whan he was in his goodnes.
1550 M. Coverdale tr. O. Werdmueller Spyrytuall & Precyouse Pearle xviii. sig. Gviij After trouble & aduersyte folowyth al maner of goodnes and felycyte.
1643 R. Gentilis tr. G. Diodati Pious Annot. Holy Bible (Isa. xlv. 7) 37/2 I am the author of all goodnesse and prosperity through my benignitie, as likewise by my justice I send afflictions and punishments.
1743 Earl of Egmont Faction Detected 108 That the Benefits of our Situation are to be carried further than this..is a Presumption upon the Goodness and Felicity permitted us by Providence.
5. That which is good in anything; the strength or essence of something; esp. the beneficial, nourishing, or flavoursome element of food. Usually with the.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [noun] > that which is good > in anything
goodnesslOE
good?1505
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1086 Ðas þing we habbað be him gewritene, ægðer ge gode ge yfele, þet þa godan men niman æfter þeora godnesse & forleon [perh. read forfleon] mid ealle yfelnesse.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. xxvi. 924 Þe chief goodnes þerof [sc. cinnamon] is in þe most þikke and smal spray in þe ouermest partyes.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xliiii Whan the toppe is eaten or broken it is a greate let, hurt, and hynderance of the goodnes of the springe: for than where it is eaten it burgesse out of many braunches and nat so fayre as the first wolde haue ben.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 45 Donng..must be laide vpon the toppe of the highest of the grounde, that the goodnesse may runne to the bottome.
1651 J. French Art Distillation v. 116 And the truth is, all the goodnesse of the Wine is from this pure Spirit.
1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery vi. 63 Strain it boiling-hot through a Cloth, till you have all the Goodness out of it.
1804 ‘Ignotus’ Culina 21 Stew till all the goodness be got from the meat.
1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue Introd. 93 Even so it is with the dialects—all their goodness is gone into the King's English.
1945 Life 19 Feb. 8 Pop it under the broiler and let the ripe, aged Cheddar goodness sink right in!
1999 R. Deakin Waterlog (2000) v. 58 A lot of people do wrong and they'll skin an eel, but I never skin mine. All the goodness is in that liquor, and it will set like a jelly.
Phrases
P1. In various exclamatory phrases, typically as a euphemism for God (see god n. and int. Phrases 1). Cf. heaven n. Phrases 3.Originally with reference to the goodness of God; cf. sense 2a, and analogous uses of mercy (see mercy n. 3). N.E.D. (1900) states: ‘The phrases are not now in dignified use.’
a. In exclamations expressing entreaty or remonstrance, as †for goodness, for goodness' sake, in the name of goodness, etc. Cf. pity n. 2c.In quot. 16231, the sense of for goodness sake may be merely ‘in order to be kind’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > exclamation of emotion [interjection]
goodness1623
agad1672
Godsokers1672
Oh dear!1694
law1763
lud1767
Dear me!1773
Lor1776
dear knows!1805
Great God!1819
Great Scott1852
Jehoshaphat1857
lors1860
Great Sun!1867
Great Caesar!1870
gracious me!1884
my (giddy, sainted, etc.) aunt!1886
snakes1891
lieber Gott1898
my gosh!1920
cor1931
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > exclamations of doubt [interjection]
humh1603
goodness1623
umph1800
humph1815
yes and no1825
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection]
whatOE
well, wellOE
avoyc1300
ouc1300
ay1340
lorda1393
ahaa1400
hillaa1400
whannowc1450
wow1513
why?1520
heydaya1529
ah1538
ah me!a1547
fore me!a1547
o me!a1547
what the (also a) goodyear1570
precious coals1576
Lord have mercy (on us)1581
good heavens1588
whau1589
coads1590
ay me!1591
my stars!a1593
Gods me1595
law1598
Godso1600
to go out1600
coads-nigs1608
for mercy!a1616
good stars!1615
mercy on us (also me, etc.)!a1616
gramercy1617
goodness1623
what next?1662
mon Dieu1665
heugh1668
criminy1681
Lawd1696
the dickens1697
(God, etc.) bless my heart1704
alackaday1705
(for) mercy's sake!1707
my1707
deuce1710
gracious1712
goodly and gracious1713
my word1722
my stars and garters!1758
lawka1774
losha1779
Lord bless me (also you, us, etc.)1784
great guns!1795
mein Gott1795
Dear me!1805
fancy1813
well, I'm sure!1815
massy1817
Dear, dear!1818
to get off1818
laws1824
Mamma mia1824
by crikey1826
wisha1826
alleleu1829
crackey1830
Madonna mia1830
indeed1834
to go on1835
snakes1839
Jerusalem1840
sapristi1840
oh my days1841
tear and ages1841
what (why, etc.) in time?1844
sakes alive!1846
gee willikers1847
to get away1847
well, to be sure!1847
gee1851
Great Scott1852
holy mackerel!1855
doggone1857
lawsy1868
my wig(s)!1871
gee whiz1872
crimes1874
yoicks1881
Christmas1882
hully gee1895
'ullo1895
my hat!1899
good (also great) grief!1900
strike me pink!1902
oo-er1909
what do you know?1909
cripes1910
coo1911
zowiec1913
can you tie that?1918
hot diggety1924
yeow1924
ziggety1924
stone (or stiffen) the crows1930
hullo1931
tiens1932
whammo1932
po po po1936
how about that?1939
hallo1942
brother1945
tie that!1948
surprise1953
wowee1963
yikes1971
never1974
to sod off1976
whee1978
mercy1986
yipes1989
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > wishing > wish [phrase]
Christ wouldeOE
God wouldeOE
lief I were1297
to hope (also wish, etc.) to Christa1375
to wish to Godc1385
willc1460
would to God (also Heaven)c1460
goodness1623
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII Prol. 23 Therefore, for Goodnesse sake, and as you are knowne The First and Happiest Hearers of the Towne, Be sad, as we would make ye. View more context for this quotation
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. i. 158 For Goodnesse sake, consider what you do, How you may hurt your selfe. View more context for this quotation
1643 J. Spelman View of Printed Bk. sig. C3v In the name of goodnesse then, what is that which the people speak of?
1650 T. Bayly Herba Parietis 26 He begs, and prayes her, for goodnesse sake,..that she would not speake a word of what had passed.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xiv. 111 But what in the name of goodness could provoke you to tempt your fate so long?
1814 J. Galt tr. C. Goldoni Love, Honor, & Interest ii. iii, in New Brit. Theatre III. 278 For goodness, sir, tell me what means this haste.
1985 A. Buckeridge Jennings goes to School (rev. ed.) vi. 88 Get a move on, Lofty, for goodness sake.
2006 A. Bidulka Stain of Berry i. 21 It's much too soon for a mid-life crisis, puppy. You're a six-foot-one, fresh-faced, sandy-haired Adonis for goodness sake.
b. In exclamations expressing surprise, horror, excitement, etc., esp. in (my) goodness, goodness gracious (me), goodness me. Cf. heaven n. Phrases 3b.
ΚΠ
1667 A. Bailey Spightful Sister ii. i. 23 Win. Beucer the Rogue ha's defil'd My Daughters Virginity aboard a ship, and now ha's left her. Thele. Ha's he so! (O Goodness!)
1682 Duke of Buckingham Fletcher's Chances v. iv. 62 O sweet Goodness! is it you?
1768 I. Bickerstaff Padlock ii. vii. 25 Goodness me, what's the matter?
1779 F. Burney Evelina (ed. 2) II. xiii. 106 ‘Goodness!’ exclaimed he, ‘not seen the Tower!’
?1790 D. Kilner Anecd. Boarding-school II. 55 O! Goodness! Gracious me! what fun it is to see Miss Beauchamp have a letter from her mamma!
1823 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 218/1 My goodness! why, every body does so.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxviii. 417 ‘Goodness gracious!’ said Mary,..‘Why it's that very house.’
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge ix. 285 Goodness gracious me!
1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xix. 216 There was a gasp and a cry—and somebody said in muffled accents: ‘Merciful goodness!’
1933 ‘J. Bridie’ Sleeping Clergyman i. iv. 42 Oh, mercy, gracious, goodness me, what a jealous wee animal we have to-night!
1976 J. Gardam Bilgewater (1985) vi. 58 But bless me, Edmund if she's not one. She's the blummin' genius! My goodness gracious me!
1980 W. M. Spackman Presence with Secrets (1982) iii. 112 ‘You got up ?—goodness’! she said.
2011 L. M. Danforth & R. Van Boeschoten Children of Greek Civil War (2012) ii. iv. 151 My goodness! How can they stand so still?
c. to wish (also hope, etc.) to goodness: used to emphasize the wish, hope, etc., that something should happen or be the case. Also surely to goodness: used to emphasize the expectation that something ought to happen or be the case.
ΚΠ
1725 M. Davys Lady's Tale in Wks. II. 152 He did so ogle, and so leer, and so stare—well, I hope to Goodness, he's in love with you, Madam.
1806 M. Wilmot Let. 13 Dec. in M. Wilmot & C. Wilmot Russ. Jrnls. (1934) iii. 274 I wish to Goodness all my Books were this moment in the Music Room.
1843 Metropolitan Nov. 303 Surely to goodness you threw the horrible finger away the very next morning, Clairford?
1875 A. Trollope Way we live Now II. lxi. 68 He ‘wished to goodness’ that he had dined at his club.
1907 N. Munro Daft Days xvi. 142 I wish to goodness folk here had a little git-up-and-go to them!
1945 L. Lenski Strawberry Girl xiv. 179 I declare to goodness, looks like hit got rained on.
1995 R. Shaw Talk of Village (2001) xii. 144 Surely to goodness 'e's learned 'is lesson.
d. goodness (only) knows. Cf. God knows at god n. and int. Phrases 1d(b), Heaven knows at heaven n. Phrases 3d.
(a) Used to imply that something is unknown to the speaker, and probably also to others. Frequently with what, where, who, etc.
ΚΠ
1740 Christmas Entertainm. (1883) iii. 19 They indeed Witchcraft it in London, where People know goodness knows what.
1819 P. Hawker Diary (1893) I. 185 Here I remained..for goodness knows how many hours.
1873 ‘M. Twain’ Gilded Age ii. 32 Goodness knows what's to become o' that po' boy.
1925 M. Wiltshire Thursday's Child xi. 221 I wouldn't mind betting Jane's worrying herself sick over it; and he—goodness knows what he's doing or feeling.
1973 W. M. Duncan Big Timer xxi. 134 Talk about trouble! Goodness knows what Frank will say.
2012 Kalgoorlie (W. Austral.) Miner (Nexis) 8 Mar. 8 The ambulance officers, firefighters and police always had a smile on their faces, but goodness only knows what was churning around inside them.
(b) Used to emphasize the truth of a statement.
ΚΠ
1819 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Nov. 207/2 Goodness knows, that in our waking hours, we delight to think of the many thousand tea-kettles boiling away of an evening in this city.
1839 M. Gardiner Governess 195 I found him out in his tricks, and that was, goodness knows, very often.
1872 Tinsley Mag. Xmas No. 17 My old mother used to say that every hen's got enough to do to look after its own chicks, and it clacks enough over that, goodness knows.
1921 M. K. Maule God's Anointed xxxix. 305 I am glad if I am a good comrade. You need one, goodness knows, in the work you are doing!
2001 Independent 25 Apr. i. 8/6 Say what you like about Gerald.., and goodness knows, people do, but his command of detail is undisputed.
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e. thank goodness: see thank v. 3g.
P2. to have the goodness to do something: to be willing to do something for someone. Chiefly used as a polite expression of wish or request with regard to another person's actions. Cf. to be good enough (also so good as) to at good adj., n., adv., and int. Phrases 5c. [After French avoir la bonté de faire quelque chose (1644 in the passage translated in quot. 1652, or earlier).]
ΚΠ
1652 C. Cotterell tr. G. de Costes de La Calprenède Cassandra iii. ii. 122 If you have the goodness to receiv mee into it [Fr. Si vous auez la bonté de m'y receuoir], I hope I shall becom valiant by your examples.
1677 T. Rawlins Tom Essence v. i. 51 I'le make amends for the rudeness, and will comply if he has the goodness to ask, let it be what it will.
1709 tr. C. J. Poncet Voy. Æthiopia 29 He had the Goodness to give us a Person to be our Safe-guard.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 75 Have the goodness, Madam..to step in.
1805 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 14 193 Have the goodness to permit an old friend to say a few words in his own defence.
1881 Gentleman's Mag. June 728 I am requested by Mr. Charles Dickens to express his regret that he cannot accept the contribution you have had the goodness to offer him.
1903 W. B. Yeats Let. 16 Nov. (1994) III. 467 I will say nothing about any living poet. If he would have the goodness to die I would have plenty to say.
1999 P. O'Brian Blue at Mizzen (2000) iii. 60 Joseph, would you have the goodness to lend me half a crown?
P3. out of (also from) the goodness of one's heart: because or by reason of one's kindness or generosity; for no personal benefit or gain. Now frequently with reference to something unwillingly undertaken.
ΚΠ
1834 Jesuit (Boston) 8 Mar. 75/3 I would wish to describe..the peculiar interest which the Holy Father takes in the prosperity of the Republic of Hayti, not only on account of the Church of which he is the visible head, but from the goodness of his heart.
1848 D. O. D. Sombre Let. 6 May in Refut. Charges Lunacy (1849) 274 I am doomed to suffer like a felon..only because I have persons opposed to me, who make use of the means I had allowed them out of the goodness of my heart!
1884 ‘J. Strathesk’ More Bits from Blinkbonny 120 He's a rattleskull of a laddie, Charlie, and does things..more out of the exuberant goodness of his heart, than that he means anything in particular.
1922 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 30 419 Service was regarded as a sort of economic second mile which the seller furnished out of the goodness of his heart.
1949 Walla Walla (Washington) Union-Bull. 9 Oct. 5 Mrs. R. M. (Mary) Fahey..from the goodness of her heart oftentimes has been an unknown benefactress to infirmary patients.
1968 Newsday 9 Jan. 7/3 The owner of the house..said last night that the Johnsons were responsible for maintaining the boiler and ‘I am repairing it out of the goodness of my heart.’
1999 J. M. Coetzee Disgrace (2000) ix. 77 Don't expect to be paid. You will have to do it out of the goodness of your heart.
P4.
goodness of fit n. Statistics the degree to which a set of observed values agree with theoretical values, esp. as determined by a chi-square test.
ΚΠ
1895 K. Pearson in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 186 352 The ‘percentage error’ in ordinate is, of course, only a rough test of the goodness of fit.
1903 Nature 17 Dec. 149/2 We should like to protest against any such crude process of determining goodness of fit as that of placing a normal curve down on seven or eight blocks forming a ‘histogram’ and judging the look of the fit.
1989 Jrnl. Heredity 80 7/3 I tested progeny genotypes..at each locus using G -tests for goodness of fit.
2011 Environmental Health Perspectives 119 833/3 The goodness of fit was not as good as the fit for the square-root model.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.eOE