Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GOOD, a. [Sax. god or good; Goth. goda, gods, goth; G. gut; D. goed; Sw. and Dan. god; Gr. αγαθος; Pers. جود, chod. In Russ. godnei, fit, suitable, seems to be the same word. The primary sense is strong, from extending, advancing, whence free, large, abundant, fit, and particularly, strong, firm, valid, (like valid, from valeo; worth, virtue, from vireo; Sax. duguth, virtue, from dugan, to be strong.) In the phrase, a good deal, we observe the sense of extending; in the phrases, a good title, a medicine good for a disease, we observe. The sense of strong, efficacious. Ar. جَادَ gauda, to be liberal or copious, to overflow, to be good, to become better or more firm. See also جَدَا gada, to be useful, profitable or convenient. This word good has not the comparative and superlative degrees of comparison; but instead of them, better and best, from another root, are used. Class Gd, No. 3, 8.]

1. Valid; legally firm; not weak or defective; having strength adequate to its support; as, a good title; a good deed; a good claim.
2. Valid; sound; not weak, false or fallacious; as, a good argument.
3. Complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind; having the physical qualities best adapted to its design and use; opposed to bad, imperfect, corrupted, impaired. We say, good timber, good cloth, a good soil, a good color. And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Gen. i.
4. Having moral qualities best adapted to its design and use, or the qualities which God's law requires; virtuous; pious; religious; applied to persons, and opposed to bad, vicious, wicked, evil. Yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. Rom. v.
5. Conformable to the moral law; virtuous; applied to actions. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works. Tit. ii.
6. Proper; fit; convenient; seasonable; well adapted to the end. It was a good time to commence operations. He arrived in good time.
7. Convenient; useful; expedient; conducive to happiness. It is not good that the man should be alone. Gen. ii.
8. Sound; perfect; uncorrupted; undamaged. This fruit will keep good the whole year.
9. Suitable to the taste or to health; wholesome; salubrious; palatable; not disagreeable or noxious; as, fruit good to eat; a tree good for food. Gen. ii.
10. Suited to produce a salutary effect; adapted to abate or cure; medicinal; salutary; beneficial; as, fresh vegetables are good for scorbutic diseases.
11. Suited to strengthen or assist the healthful functions; as, a little wine is good for a weak stomach.
12. Pleasant to the taste; as, a good apple. My son, eat thou honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste. Prov. xxiv.
13. Full; complete. The Protestant subjects of the abbey make up a good third of its people. Addison.
14. Useful; valuable; having qualities of a tendency to produce a good effect. All quality, that is good for any thing, is originally founded on merit. Collier.
15. Equal; adequate; competent. His security is good for the amount of the debt; applied to persons able to fulfill contracts. Antonio is a good man. Shak.
16. Favorable; convenient for any purpose; as, a good stand for business; a good station for a camp.
17. Convenient; suitable; safe; as a good harbor for ships.
18. Well qualified; able; skillful; or performing duties with skill and fidelity; as, a good prince; a good commander; a good officer; a good physician.
19. Ready; dextrous. Those are generally good at flattering who are good for nothing else. South.
20. Kind; benevolent; affectionate; as, a good father; good will.
21. Kind; affectionate; faithful; as, a good friend.
22. Promotive of happiness; pleasant; agreeable; cheering; gratifying. Behold, how good and how peasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Ps. cxxxiii.
23. Pleasant or prosperous; as, good morrow, sir; good morning.
24. Honorable; fair; unblemished; unimpeached; as, a man of good fame or report. A good name is better than precious ointment. Eccles. vii.
25. Cheerful; favorable to happiness. Be of good comfort.
26. Great or considerable; not small nor very great; as, a good while ago; he is a good way off, or at a good distance; he has a good deal of leisure. I had a good share of the trouble. Here we see the primary sense of extending, advancing.
27. Elegant; polite; as, good breeding.
28. Real; serous; not feigned. Love not in good earnest. Shak.
29. Kind; favorable; benevolent; humane. The men were very good to us. 1. Sam. xxv.
30. Benevolent; merciful; gracious. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Ps. lxxiii.
31. Seasonable; commendable; proper. Why trouble ye the woman, for she hath wrought a good work on me. Matth. xxvi.
32. Pleasant; cheerful; festive. We come in a good day. 1 Sam. xxv.
33. Companionable; social; merry. It is well known, that Sir Roger had been a good fellow in his youth. Arbuthnot.
34. Brave; in familiar language. You are a good fellow.
35. In the phrases, the good man, applied to the master of the house, and good woman, applied to the mistress, good sometimes expresses a moderate degree of respect, and sometimes slight contempt. Among the first settlers of New England, it was used as a title instead of Mr.; as, Goodman Jones; Goodman Wells.
36. The phrase good will is equivalent to benevolence; but it signifies also an earnest desire, a hearty wish, entire willingness or fervent zeal; as, we entered into the service with a good will; he laid on stripes with a good will.
37. Comely; handsome; well formed; as, a good person or shape.
38. Mild; pleasant; expressing benignity or other estimable qualities; as, a good countenance.
39. Mild; calm; not irritable or fractious; as, a good temper.
40. Kind; friendly; humane; as, a good heart or disposition. Good advice, wise and prudent counsel. Good heed, great care; due caution. In good sooth, in good truth; in reality. [Obs.] To make good, to perform; to fulfill; as, to make good one's word or promise; that is, to make it entire or unbroken. #2. To confirm or establish; to prove; to verify; as, to make good a charge or accusation. #3. To supply deficiency; to make up a defect or loss. I will make good what is wanting. #4. To indemnify; to give an equivalent for damages. If you suffer loss, I will make it good to you. #5. To maintain; to carry into effect; as, to make good a retreat. To stand good, to be firm or valid. His word or promise stands good To think good, to see good, is to be pleased or satisfied; to think to be expedient. If ye think good, give me my price. Zech. xi. As good as, equally; no better than; the same as. We say, one is as good as dead. Heb. xi. As good as his word, equaling in fulfillment what was promised; performing to the extent.