godnes

Old English

Alternative forms

• gōdness, gōdnys

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *gōdnassī, equivalent to gōd +‎ -nes. Cognate with Old High German guotnessī (“goodness”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡoːd.nes/

Noun

gōdnes f

1. the quality or condition of being good; goodness
2. a good act or good deed
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, Lives of Saints

     Hē þancode þā god eallra his gōdnyssa, þæt hē hine ġesċylde wiþ þone swicolan deofol and him siġe forġēaf þurh sōþne ġelēafan.

     Then he thanked God for all of his good deeds, that He protected him against the treacherous devil and gave him victory through the true faith.

Declension

Strong ō-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	gōdnes	gōdnessa, gōdnesse
accusative	gōdnesse	gōdnessa, gōdnesse
genitive	gōdnesse	gōdnessa
dative	gōdnesse	gōdnessum

Descendants

• Middle English: goodnesse, godenes, godenesse, godnes, godnese, godnesse, goodnes, guodnesse (Kent), goddnes, gudeness (Northern), godnæsse, godnisse, godnysse (Early Middle English)
  • English: goodness
  • Scots: guidness, gudeness
  • Yola: goounees, goouness