goodness
/ˈɡʊdnəs
/noun
1The quality of being good: a belief in the basic goodness of mankind...
- Hope draws its power from a deep trust in higher being and the basic goodness of human nature
- Basic goodness transcends the concepts of good and bad.
- But along with my innocent childhood belief in the resurrection of rock music and the essential goodness of mankind, this myth was shattered too.
Synonyms
virtue, virtuousness, good, righteousness, morality, ethicalness, uprightness, upstandingness, integrity, principle, dignity, rectitude, rightness;
honesty, truth, truthfulness, honourableness, honourability, honour, incorruptibility, probity, propriety, decency, respectability, nobility, nobility of soul/spirit, nobleness, worthiness, worth, merit, trustworthiness, meritoriousness, irreproachableness, blamelessness, purity, pureness, lack of corruption;
justice, justness, fairness, equity, equitableness, impartiality, lawfulness, legality
kindness, kindliness, kind-heartedness, warm-heartedness, tender-heartedness, humaneness, humanity, mildness, benevolence, benignity, tenderness, warmth, motherliness, fatherliness, affection, lovingness, love, goodwill;
sympathy, compassion, care, concern, understanding, tolerance, patience, indulgence, generosity, charity, charitableness, leniency, clemency, forbearance, magnanimity;
helpfulness, considerateness, thoughtfulness, consideration, niceness, courtesy, politeness, decency, graciousness, neighbourliness, pleasantness, public-spiritedness, friendliness, geniality, congeniality, amiability, cordiality
2The beneficial or nourishing element of food.Some of them even went so far as to ingest tape worms to avoid their bodies absorbing the goodness from food and so remaining thin (some people today still do this)....
- The food nourishes, provides nutrients and goodness, yet the left-overs are generally uniform and of a recurring theme.
- At least, not now, with the goodness and warmth of the food spreading within him.
Synonyms
nutritional value, nutrition, nutrients, wholesomeness, nourishment
rare nutriment
exclamation
(As a substitution for ‘God’) expressing surprise, anger, etc. goodness knows why she didn’t go herself my goodness, you gave me quite a fright!...
- I went and looked down it and thought ‘Oh my goodness!’
- In my own half-asleep state, I heard her go through to Alex's room, and then there was an exclamation of ‘Oh my goodness!’
- Ben Pimlott (who calls her Alice) records that the young princess once said ‘My goodness!’
Phrases
for goodness' sake
goodness of fit
have the goodness to do something
Origin
Old English gōdnes (see good, -ness).