Goodness
/ˈɡʊd.nəs/noun
The quality of being good; moral excellence or kindness.
Did you know?Old English *gōdnes* was formed from *gōd* + *-nes*, and *gōd* traces back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning “fitting” or “suitable,” not originally “morally holy.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ghedh-
“to unite, fit, or be suitable”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gōda-
“good, fitting, suitable”
Old English
OE
gōdnes
“goodness; virtue; excellence”
Middle English
ME
goodnesse
“goodness; moral quality; kindness”
Modern English
English
goodness
“the quality of being good; moral excellence or kindness”