goodness

Universal Words noun [U] 1 (spoken) used to express surprise: Goodness, what a big balloon! * My goodness! * Goodness me, no! * Goodness gracious! 2 the quality of being good: the essential goodness of human nature * evidence of God's goodness * (formal) At least have the goodness (= good manners) to look at me when I'm talking to you. -< GOOD 3 the part of sth that has a useful effect on sb/sth, especially sb's health: These vegetables have had all the goodness boiled out of them. * Branches pruned from the trees are shredded so the goodness goes back into the soil. IDIOMS out of the goodness of your heart from feelings of kindness, without thinking about what advantage there will be for you: You're not telling me he offered to lend you the money out of the goodness of his heart? moreatGOD, HONEST, KNOWv., THANK