GOOD - The Law Mind Legal Dictionary

GOODAuthored

The Law Mind • 1151 words

Definition

"Good" is not a technical legal term of art but functions as a legal modifier that changes meaning depending on the noun it qualifies. Courts and legal sources treat it as preserving its ordinary sense while acquiring specific legal content in each context. Principal legal uses include:

Valid; legally sufficient. A "good" deed, defense, count, or title is one that satisfies all legal requirements and will withstand challenge. A defective pleading or instrument is correspondingly "bad."

Responsible; solvent; creditworthy. A person or entity is "good" for a sum when they are financially able to pay it. A note is "good" when its payment at maturity can be relied upon.

Genuine; collectible. Applied to commercial paper and obligations, "good" signals that the instrument is not spurious and that the obligor is capable of performing.

Honorable; done with lawful or honest intent. As in "good faith," "good cause," or "good behavior" — contexts where the modifier signals an absence of fraud, malice, or improper purpose.

Of merchantable quality. In contract and commercial contexts, "good" goods or commodities meet the standard of quality promised by their description. Courts have treated "good" and "sound" as substantially synonymous in this commercial sense.

A distinct but related use appears in banking: writing the word "Good" across the face of a check is the customary form by which a bank certifies the instrument, guaranteeing payment.

Common Language

Modern common usage (Wiktionary): Acting in the interest of what is beneficial, ethical, or moral; competent or talented; able to be depended on for the discharge of obligations; well-behaved; satisfied or content.

Historical common usage (Webster's 1913): Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed; promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit; excellent; admirable; not bad, corrupt, evil, noxious, offensive, or troublesome.

The gap between common and legal usage is narrow but consequential. In ordinary speech, "good" is primarily a moral or qualitative judgment. In legal contexts, it is a term of legal sufficiency — "good title" does not mean admirable title, it means title that will hold up. Researchers who treat "good" as purely evaluative will misread the operative force of the term in instruments, pleadings, and covenants.

Recognized Forms

/SUBTYPES

The term generates a cluster of legally distinct compound phrases, each with its own body of authority:

- GOOD FAITH: Honesty in fact; absence of fraudulent intent or bad purpose. The most litigated of the "good" compounds.
- GOOD CAUSE: Legally sufficient reason justifying a deviation from a rule or deadline. Varies significantly by context.
- GOOD BEHAVIOR: Conduct conforming to law; the standard for tenure of judges and release conditions for prisoners.
- GOOD CONSIDERATION: A consideration grounded in moral obligation (love, affection, natural duty), as distinguished from valuable consideration.
- GOOD AND MERCHANTABLE: A quality standard in sale-of-goods contracts requiring fitness for ordinary commercial purposes.
- GOOD AND LAWFUL MEN: A statutory phrase describing the qualification standard for jurors.
- GOOD TITLE: Title free from reasonable doubt; marketable title that a purchaser can be compelled to accept.

Why It Matters in Research

The research challenge with "good" is that its legal content is entirely dependent on its noun companion. A researcher searching for "good" alone will retrieve an unmanageable volume of results spanning incompatible legal contexts. Effective research requires identifying the compound phrase — "good faith," "good cause," "good title" — and treating each as an independent term of art with its own doctrine.

Historical sources often index the compound phrases separately rather than under "good" itself. Rapalje & Lawrence, for example, treats "good and lawful men," "good and merchantable," "good and perfect deed," and "good and sufficient conveyance" as discrete entries keyed to specific cases. Researchers using historical digests should look under the full phrase, not the modifier alone.

A significant trap in historical sources involves "good consideration." Pre-twentieth-century law distinguished sharply between good consideration (moral obligation) and valuable consideration (money or money's worth). Many modern sources have collapsed or blurred this distinction. An instrument reciting "for good and valuable consideration" in an older deed is not redundant — it is invoking both categories simultaneously, and the distinction could affect enforceability against third parties.

The banking certification use — writing "Good" on the face of a check — is historically significant but may be unfamiliar to researchers working with modern payment systems sources, where certification is governed by statute and the word itself has been largely replaced by formal bank certification procedures.

The encyclopedia connection to good faith and fair dealing in employment reflects the most active current litigation context for "good" as a legal modifier. Researchers tracing employment disputes will encounter "good cause" termination standards, "good faith" bargaining obligations, and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing as distinct but related doctrines.

Historical Dictionary Support

The historical dictionaries are in close agreement on the core meanings. Burrill and Black's (1st Ed.) converge on three definitions: valid and legally sufficient, responsible and solvent, and genuine or collectible. Anderson's is the most analytically useful of the historical sources, explicitly noting that "good" "preserves its popular, untechnical meanings" while cataloguing the distinct legal senses by noun: orderly (good behavior), fair/honorable (good fame), valid (good consideration), legally sufficient (good count, deed, defense), and with lawful intent (good faith).

Bouvier's contributes a useful evidentiary point: courts have treated "good" and "sound" as substantially synonymous in merchantable-quality contracts, resolving a drafting ambiguity that recurs in agricultural and commodity sale cases.

What the historical dictionaries largely omit is any sustained treatment of "good" in the employment and contract law contexts that now dominate modern litigation. The implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing — a doctrine with significant twentieth-century development — receives no treatment in any of these sources as a standalone concept, though its components (faith, dealing) appear individually. Researchers should not assume that historical dictionary coverage of "good faith" captures the modern implied covenant doctrine.

Jurisdictional Note

The legal content of "good" compounds varies by jurisdiction in ways that matter. "Good cause" for termination under an employment statute is defined differently across states and federal circuits. "Good title" standards — particularly the distinction between good title and marketable title — differ between states operating under different recording acts and title insurance regimes.

Encyclopedia Cross-Reference

The Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing in Employment (The Law Mind Employment & Labor Law Encyclopedia)

GOODmain

Black's Law Dictionary • 1891

ship are braced square across. 1 Newb. Adm. 115.

GOODmain

Black's Law Dictionary • 1891

1. Valid; sufficient in law; ef- fectual; unobjectionable. 2. Responsible; solvent; able to pay an amount specified. 3. Of a value corresponding with its terms; collectible. A note is said to be "good" when the payment of it at maturity may be relied on. Writing the word "Good" across the face of a check is the customary mode in which bankers at

GOODmain

Rapalje & Lawrence • 1888

(571) (572) GOOD AND LAWFUL MEN, (in a statute). 6 Binn. (Pa.) 179, 185. P. 63. (in jury act). 6 Johns. (N. Y.) 332. (in a precept to a sheriff). 3 Car. & GOOD AND MERCHANTABLE, (in a declaraion). 1 Pick. (Mass.) 162. GOOD AND PERFECT DEED, (in a covenant). 18 Miss. 615; 21 Id. 275. GOOD AND SUFFICIENT CONVEYANCE, (covenant to execute). 5 Wend. (N. Y.) 654. GOOD AND SUFFICIENT DEED, (covenant to execute). 2 Johns. (N. Y.) 595; 16 Id. 268; 9 N. Y. 535. (in a bond). 6 Cal. 566, 573. (in an agreement). 14 Me. 276, 279; 1 Gr. (N. J.) Ch. 526; 6 Halst. (N. J.) 110; Wright (Ohio) 644. (in contract to sell). 22 Minn. 137.

GOODa.

Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest; in good sooth. Love no man in good earnest. Shak. 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. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete. Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. Luke vi. 38. 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). (a) A consideration of blood or of natural love and affection. Blackstone. (b) A valuable consideration, or one which will sustain a contract.  -- Good fellow, a person of companionable qualities. [Familiar] -- Good folk, or Good people, fairies; brownies; pixies, etc. [Colloq. Eng. & Scot.] -- Good for nothing. (a) Of no value; useless; worthless. (b) 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 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. (a) Benevolence; well wishing; kindly feeling. (b) (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. (a) Promptly; punctually; opportunely; not too soon nor too late. (b) (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. 12.

GOODn.

Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913

That which possesses desirable qualities, promotes success, welfare, or happiness, is serviceable, fit, excellent, kind, benevolent, etc.; -- opposed to evil. There be many that say, Who will show us any good Ps. iv. 6. Advancement of interest or happiness; welfare; prosperity; advantage; benefit; -- opposed to harm, etc. The good of the whole community can be promoted only by advancing the good of each of the members composing it. Jay. Wares; commodities; chattels; -- formerly used in the singular in a collective sense. In law, a comprehensive name for almost all personal property as distinguished from land or real property. Wharton. He hath made us spend much good. Chaucer. Thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice. Shak. Dress goods, Dry goods, etc. See in the Vocabulary.  -- Goods engine, a freight locomotive. [Eng.] -- Goods train, a freight train. [Eng.] -- Goods wagon, a freight car [Eng.] See the Note under Car, n., 2.

GOODadv.

Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913

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.

goodadj

Wiktionary (English) • 2026

Wiktionary contributors • CC BY-SA 4.0 • via Kaikki
Extracted and formatted for display by Law Mind. Source link opens the current Wiktionary page and its contributor history; it is not a frozen copy of this extract.

Of a person or an animal: | Acting in the interest of what is beneficial, ethical, or moral. | Of a person or an animal: | Competent or talented. | Of a person or an animal: | Able to be depended on for the discharge of obligations incurred; of unimpaired credit; used with for. | Of a person or an animal: | Well-behaved (especially of children or animals). | Of a person or an animal: | Satisfied or at ease; not requiring more. | Of a person or an animal: | Accepting of, OK with | Of a person or an animal: | Of high rank or birth. | Of a capability: | Useful for a particular purpose; functional. | Of a capability: | Effective. | Of a capability: | Real; actual; serious. | Of a property or quality: | Of food: | Having a particularly pleasant taste. | Of a property or quality: | Of food: | Being satisfying; meeting dietary requirements. | Of a property or quality: | Of food or other perishable products, still fit for use; not yet expired, stale, rotten, etc. | Of a property or quality: | Valid, of worth, capable of being honoured. | Of a property or quality: | True, valid, of explanatory strength. | Of a property or quality: | Right, proper, as it should be. | Of a property or quality: | Healthful. | Of a property or quality: | Pleasant; enjoyable. | Of a property or quality: | Favorable. | Of a property or quality: | Unblemished; honourable. | Of a property or quality: | Beneficial; worthwhile. | Of a property or quality: | Adequate; sufficient; not fallacious. | Very, extremely. See good and. | Ready. | Holy (especially when capitalized) . | Of a quantity: | Reasonable in amount. | Of a quantity: | Large in amount or size. | Of a quantity: | Full; entire; at least as much as. | Special, best, favorite.

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