What is "good will"

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.

Will \Will\, n. [OE. wille, AS. willa; akin to OFries. willa, OS. willeo, willio, D. wil, G. wille, Icel. vili, Dan. villie, Sw. vilja, Goth wilja. See Will, v.]

1. The power of choosing; the faculty or endowment of the soul by which it is capable of choosing; the faculty or power of the mind by which we decide to do or not to do; the power or faculty of preferring or selecting one of two or more objects.

   It is necessary to form a distinct notion of what is meant by the word ``volition'' in order to understand the import of the word will, for this last word expresses the power of mind of which ``volition'' is the act.
   --Stewart.

   Will is an ambiguous word, being sometimes put for the faculty of willing; sometimes for the act of that faculty, besides [having] other meanings. But ``volition'' always signifies the act of willing, and nothing else.
   --Reid.

   Appetite is the will's solicitor, and the will is appetite's controller; what we covet according to the one, by the other we often reject.
   --Hooker.

   The will is plainly that by which the mind chooses anything.
   --J. Edwards.

2. The choice which is made; a determination or preference which results from the act or exercise of the power of choice; a volition.

   The word ``will,'' however, is not always used in this its proper acceptation, but is frequently substituted for ``volition'', as when I say that my hand mover in obedience to my will.
   --Stewart.

3. The choice or determination of one who has authority; a decree; a command; discretionary pleasure.

   Thy will be done.
   --Matt. vi. 10.

   Our prayers should be according to the will of God.
   --Law.

4. Strong wish or inclination; desire; purpose.

   Note: ``Inclination is another word with which will is frequently confounded. Thus, when the apothecary says, in Romeo and Juliet,

   My poverty, but not my will, consents; . . . Put this in any liquid thing you will, And drink it off. [1913 Webster] the word will is plainly used as, synonymous with inclination; not in the strict logical sense, as the immediate antecedent of action. It is with the same latitude that the word is used in common conversation, when we speak of doing a thing which duty prescribes, against one's own will; or when we speak of doing a thing willingly or unwillingly.''
   --Stewart.

5. That which is strongly wished or desired.

   What's your will, good friar?
   --Shak.

   The mariner hath his will.
   --Coleridge.

6. Arbitrary disposal; power to control, dispose, or determine.

   Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies.
   --Ps. xxvii. 12.

7. (Law) The legal declaration of a person's mind as to the manner in which he would have his property or estate disposed of after his death; the written instrument, legally executed, by which a man makes disposition of his estate, to take effect after his death; testament; devise. See the Note under Testament, 1.

   Note: Wills are written or nuncupative, that is, oral. See Nuncupative will, under Nuncupative.

   At will (Law), at pleasure. To hold an estate at the will of another, is to enjoy the possession at his pleasure, and be liable to be ousted at any time by the lessor or proprietor. An estate at will is at the will of both parties.

   Good will. See under Good.

   Ill will, enmity; unfriendliness; malevolence.

   To have one's will, to obtain what is desired; to do what one pleases.

   Will worship, worship according to the dictates of the will or fancy; formal worship. [Obs.]

   Will worshiper, one who offers will worship. [Obs.]
   --Jer. Taylor.

   With a will, with willingness and zeal; with all one's heart or strength; earnestly; heartily.

Old English godes willan "virtuous, pious, upright," also "state of wishing well to another." One-word form goodwill (18c.) is used especially in commercial senses.

1. n. a disposition to kindness and compassion; benign good will; "the victor's grace in treating the vanquished" [syn: grace, goodwill]

2. (accounting) an intangible asset valued according to the advantage or reputation a business has acquired (over and above its tangible assets) [syn: goodwill]

3. the friendly hope that something will succeed [syn: goodwill]