What is "as good as"

Good \Good\, a. [Compar. Better; superl. Best. These words, though used as the comparative and superlative of good, are from a different root.] [AS. G[=o]d, akin to D. goed, OS. g[=o]d, OHG. guot, G. gut, Icel. g[=o][eth]r, Sw. & Dan. god, Goth. g[=o]ds; prob. orig., fitting, belonging together, and akin to E. gather. [root]29 Cf. Gather.]

1. Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed; promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent; admirable; commendable; not bad, corrupt, evil, noxious, offensive, or troublesome, etc.

   And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
   --Gen. i. 31.

   Good company, good wine, good welcome.
   --Shak.

2. Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious; religious; -- said of persons or actions.

   In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works.
   --Tit. ii. 7.

3. Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite; propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by to or toward, also formerly by unto.

   The men were very good unto us.
   --1 Sam. xxv. 15.

4. Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be relied upon; -- followed especially by for.

   All quality that is good for anything is founded originally in merit.
   --Collier.

5. Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed especially by at.

   He . . . is a good workman; a very good tailor.
   --Shak.

   Those are generally good at flattering who are good for nothing else.
   --South.

6. Adequate; sufficient; competent; sound; not fallacious; valid; in a commercial sense, to be depended on for the discharge of obligations incurred; having pecuniary ability; of unimpaired credit.

   My reasons are both good and weighty.
   --Shak.

   My meaning in saying he is a good man is . . . that he is sufficient . . . I think I may take his bond.
   --Shak.

7. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest; in good sooth.

   Love no man in good earnest.
   --Shak.

8. Not small, insignificant, or of no account; considerable; esp., in the phrases a good deal, a good way, a good degree, a good share or part, etc.

9. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete.

   Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.
   --Luke vi. 38.

10. Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied; as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good repute, etc. A good name is better than precious ointment. --Eccl. vii.

    1. As good as. See under As. For good, or For good and all, completely and finally; fully; truly. The good woman never died after this, till she came to die for good and all. --L'Estrange. Good breeding, polite or polished manners, formed by education; a polite education. Distinguished by good humor and good breeding. --Macaulay. Good cheap, literally, good bargain; reasonably cheap. Good consideration (Law).

       1. A consideration of blood or of natural love and affection.
          --Blackstone.

       2. A valuable consideration, or one which will sustain a contract. Good fellow, a person of companionable qualities. Good folk, or Good people, fairies; brownies; pixies, etc. [Colloq. Eng. & Scot.] Good for nothing.

          1. Of no value; useless; worthless.

          2. Used substantively, an idle, worthless person. My father always said I was born to be a good for nothing. --Ld. Lytton. Good Friday, the Friday of Holy Week, kept in some churches as a fast, in memoory of our Savior's passion or suffering; the anniversary of the crucifixion. Good humor, or Good-humor, a cheerful or pleasant temper or state of mind. Good humor man, a travelling vendor who sells Good Humor ice-cream (or some similar ice-cream) from a small refrigerated truck; he usually drives slowly through residential neighborhoods in summertime, loudly playing some distinctive recorded music to announce his presence. Good nature, or Good-nature, habitual kindness or mildness of temper or disposition; amiability; state of being in good humor. The good nature and generosity which belonged to his character. --Macaulay. The young count's good nature and easy persuadability were among his best characteristics. --Hawthorne. Good people. See Good folk (above). Good speed, good luck; good success; godspeed; -- an old form of wishing success. See Speed. Good turn, an act of kidness; a favor. Good will.

             1. Benevolence; well wishing; kindly feeling.

             2. (Law) The custom of any trade or business; the tendency or inclination of persons, old customers and others, to resort to an established place of business; the advantage accruing from tendency or inclination. The good will of a trade is nothing more than the probability that the old customers will resort to the old place. --Lord Eldon. In good time.

                1. Promptly; punctually; opportunely; not too soon nor too late.

                2. (Mus.) Correctly; in proper time.

                   To hold good, to remain true or valid; to be operative; to remain in force or effect; as, his promise holds good; the condition still holds good.

                   To make good, to fulfill; to establish; to maintain; to supply (a defect or deficiency); to indemmify; to prove or verify (an accusation); to prove to be blameless; to clear; to vindicate.

                   Each word made good and true.
                   --Shak.

                   Of no power to make his wishes good.
                   --Shak.

                   I . . . would by combat make her good.
                   --Shak.

                   Convenient numbers to make good the city.
                   --Shak.

                   To think good, to approve; to be pleased or satisfied with; to consider expedient or proper.

                   If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear.
                   --Zech. xi. 1

    2. Note: Good, in the sense of wishing well, is much used in greeting and leave-taking; as, good day, good night, good evening, good morning, etc.

Good \Good\, adv. Well, -- especially in the phrase as good, with a following as expressed or implied; equally well with as much advantage or as little harm as possible.

As good almost kill a man as kill a good book.
--Milton.

As good as, in effect; virtually; the same as.

They who counsel ye to such a suppressing, do as good as bid ye suppress yourselves.
--Milton.

as \as\ ([a^]z), adv. & conj. [OE. as, als, alse, also, al swa, AS. eal sw[=a], lit. all so; hence, quite so, quite as: cf. G. als as, than, also so, then. See Also.]

1. Denoting equality or likeness in kind, degree, or manner; like; similar to; in the same manner with or in which; in accordance with; in proportion to; to the extent or degree in which or to which; equally; no less than; as, ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil; you will reap as you sow; do as you are bidden.

   His spiritual attendants adjured him, as he loved his soul, to emancipate his brethren.
   --Macaulay.

   Note: As is often preceded by one of the antecedent or correlative words such, same, so, or as, in expressing an equality or comparison; as, give us such things as you please, and so long as you please, or as long as you please; he is not so brave as Cato; she is as amiable as she is handsome; come as quickly as possible. ``Bees appear fortunately to prefer the same colors as we do.''
   --Lubbock. As, in a preceding part of a sentence, has such or so to answer correlatively to it; as with the people, so with the priest.

2. In the idea, character, or condition of, -- limiting the view to certain attributes or relations; as, virtue considered as virtue; this actor will appear as Hamlet.

   The beggar is greater as a man, than is the man merely as a king.
   --Dewey.

3. While; during or at the same time that; when; as, he trembled as he spoke.

   As I return I will fetch off these justices.
   --Shak.

4. Because; since; it being the case that.

   As the population of Scotland had been generally trained to arms . . . they were not indifferently prepared.
   --Sir W. Scott.

5. Expressing concession. (Often approaching though in meaning).

   We wish, however, to avail ourselves of the interest, transient as it may be, which this work has excited.
   --Macaulay.

6. That, introducing or expressing a result or consequence, after the correlatives so and such. [Obs.]

   I can place thee in such abject state, as help shall never find thee.
   --Rowe.

   So as, so that. [Obs.]

   The relations are so uncertain as they require a great deal of examination.
   --Bacon.

7. As if; as though. [Obs. or Poetic]

   He lies, as he his bliss did know.
   --Waller.

8. For instance; by way of example; thus; -- used to introduce illustrative phrases, sentences, or citations.

9. Than. [Obs. & R.]

   The king was not more forward to bestow favors on them as they free to deal affronts to others their superiors.
   --Fuller.

10. Expressing a wish. [Obs.] ``As have,''

    Note: i. e., may he have.
    --Chaucer.

    As . . as. See So . . as, under So.

    As far as, to the extent or degree. ``As far as can be ascertained.''
    --Macaulay.

    As far forth as, as far as. [Obs.]
    --Chaucer.

    As for, or As to, in regard to; with respect to.

    As good as, not less than; not falling short of.

    As good as one's word, faithful to a promise.

    As if, or As though, of the same kind, or in the same condition or manner, that it would be if.

    As it were (as if it were), a qualifying phrase used to apologize for or to relieve some expression which might be regarded as inappropriate or incongruous; in a manner.

    As now, just now. [Obs.]
    --Chaucer.

    As swythe, as quickly as possible. [Obs.]
    --Chaucer.

    As well, also; too; besides.
    --Addison.

    As well as, equally with, no less than. ``I have understanding as well as you.''
    --Job xii. 3.

    As yet, until now; up to or at the present time; still; now.

adv. almost completely, virtually, practically