Goodness Meaning
/ˈɡʊdnəs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state or characteristic of being good.
nounThe good, nutritional, healthy part or content of something.
Sentence Examples
Thank goodness, you've come to.
Beauty without goodness is worth nothing.
The essential goodness of human nature
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her ____ was evident in the way she helped everyone without expecting anything in return.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I was truly overwhelmed by the ____ and generosity of the strangers who helped me after my car broke down.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English goodnesse, godnesse, from Old English gōdnes (“goodness; virtue; kindness”), from Proto-West Germanic *gōdnassī (“goodness”), equivalent to good + -ness. Cognate with Scots guidness (“goodness”), West Frisian goedens (“goodness”), Old High German guotnessī (“goodness”), Middle High German guotnisse (“goodness”), Russian годность (godnostʹ, “suitability, fitness”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"There is ſome ſoule of goodneſſe in things euill, / VVould men obſeruingly 'diſtill it out."
— 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 83, column 2:
"Rich, raisiny, smoky, coffee goodness: that is the flavor of urfa biber."
— 2014 October 7, Amanda Bevill, Julie Kramis Hearne, World Spice at Home: New Flavors for 75 Favorite Dishes, Sasquatch Books, →ISBN, page 42:
"But the fruit of the ſpirit is loue, ioy, peace, long ſuffering, gentleneſſe, goodneſſe, faith, / Meekeneſſe, temperance: againſt ſuch there is no law."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Galatians 5:22–23, column 2:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her ____ was evident in the way she helped everyone without expecting anything in return.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I was truly overwhelmed by the ____ and generosity of the strangers who helped me after my car broke down.