GOOD
I. adjective (better; best) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gōd; akin to Old High German guot good, Middle High German gatern to unite, Sanskrit gadhya what one clings to Date: before 12th century 1. a. of a favorable character or tendency , bountiful , fertile , handsome , attractive , b. suitable , fit , free from injury or disease , not depreciated , commercially sound , that can be relied on , profitable , advantageous , c. agreeable , pleasant , salutary , wholesome , amusing , clever , d. of a noticeably large size or quantity ; considerable , full , (3) — used as an intensive e. well-founded , cogent , true , deserving of respect ; honorable , legally valid or effectual , f. adequate , satisfactory , conforming to a standard , choice , discriminating , containing less fat and being less tender than higher grades, 2. a. virtuous , right , commendable , kind , benevolent , upper-class , competent , skillful , d. loyal , close , free from infirmity or sorrow , goodish adjective Usage: An old notion that it is wrong to say “I feel good” in reference to health still occasionally appears in print. The origins of this notion are obscure, but they seem to combine someone's idea that good should be reserved to describe virtue and uncertainty about whether an adverb or an adjective should follow feel. Today nearly everyone agrees that both good and well can be predicate adjective s after feel. Both are used to express good health, but good may connote good spirits in addition to good health. II. noun Date: before 12th century 1. something that is good, b. something conforming to the moral order of the universe, praiseworthy character ; goodness , a good element or portion, 2. advancement of prosperity or well-being , something useful or beneficial , 3. something that has economic utility or satisfies an economic want, personal property having intrinsic value but usually excluding money, securities, and negotiable instruments, cloth , something manufactured or produced for sale ; wares, merchandise , freight , good persons, 5. plural the qualities required to achieve an end, proof of wrongdoing , III. adverb Date: 13th century well , 2. — used as an intensive Usage: Ad verb ial good has been under attack from the schoolroom since the 19th century. Insistence on well rather than good has resulted in a split in connotation: well is standard, neutral, and colorless, while good is emotionally charged and emphatic. This makes good the adverb of choice in sports <“I'm seeing the ball real good” is what you hear — Roger Angell> . In such contexts asgood cannot be adequately replaced by well. Ad verb ial good is primarily a spoken form; in writing it occurs in reported and fictional speech and in generally familiar or informal contexts.