English
godness
Godness comes from Middle English goodnesse ‘a good or useful attribute or characteristic’, from Proto-West Germanic *gōdnassī ‘goodness’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ- ‘to unite, be associated, suit’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰedʰ-‘to unite, be associated, suit’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*gōdaz‘good’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*gōd‘good’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*gōdnassī‘goodness’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150gōdnes‘the quality or condition of being good’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500goodnesseas godnesse‘a good or useful attribute or characteristic’
- Englishtodaygodness
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰedʰ-‘to unite, be associated, suit’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*gōdaz‘good’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*gōd‘good’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*gōdnassī‘goodness’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150gōdnes‘the quality or condition of being good’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500goodnesseas godnesse‘a good or useful attribute or characteristic’
- Englishtodaygodness
Formed from god + -ness
Proto-Germanic *gudą ‘god, deity’
Proto-West Germanic *god ‘god, deity’
Old English god ‘god’
Middle English god
English god
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ- ‘to unite, be associated, suit’
together, gather, gad, bettering, 2 more
through Proto-Germanic *gōdaz ‘good’
through Proto-West Germanic *gōd ‘good’
through Middle English goodnesse ‘a good or useful attribute or characteristic’
Today it means
noun The state, quality, or condition of a god; divinity
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ- / godness