Old English bōt is from Proto-Germanic root *bat-, with comparative *batizon and superlative *batistaz. Its comparative, better, and superlative, best, have been transferred to good (and in some cases well). Old English beste, reduced by assimilation of -t- from earlier Old English betst "of the highest quality or standing, first, in the best manner." This originally was the superlative of bōt "remedy, reparation" (Middle English bote "advantage, help, profit"), a word now surviving in its simple form only in the expression to boot (see boot (n.2)). The good book "the Bible" attested from 1801, originally in missionary literature describing the language of conversion efforts in American Indian tribes. Good deed, good works were in Old English as "an act of piety " good deed specifically as "act of service to others" was reinforced early 20c. To have a good mind "have an earnest desire" (to do something) is from c. To make good "repay (costs, expenses), atone for (a sin or an offense)" is from late 14c. to be good for "beneficial to" is from late 14c. Īs good as "practically, virtually" is from mid-14c. Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing. 1300 good way "a great distance" is mid-15c.
1200 of numbers or quantities, "large, great," of time or distance, "long " good while "a considerable time" is from c. Of money, "not debased, standard as to value," from late 14c. Of persons, "skilled (at a profession or occupation), expert," in late Old English, now typically with at in Middle English with of or to.
As an expression of satisfaction, from early 15c. Meaning "fortunate, prosperous, favorable" was in late Old English. Middle English sense of "holy" is preserved in Good Friday. Sense of "kind, benevolent" is from late Old English in reference to persons or God, from mid-14c. Irregular comparative and superlative ( better, best) reflect a widespread pattern in words for "good," as in Latin bonus, melior, optimus. A word of uncertain etymology, perhaps originally "fit, adequate, belonging together," from PIE root *ghedh- "to unite, be associated, suitable" (source also of Sanskrit gadh- "seize (booty)," Old Church Slavonic godu "favorable time," Russian godnyi "fit, suitable," Lithuanian goda "honor," Old English gædrian "to gather, to take up together"). Old English gōd (with a long "o") "excellent, fine valuable desirable, favorable, beneficial full, entire, complete " of abstractions, actions, etc., "beneficial, effective righteous, pious " of persons or souls, "righteous, pious, virtuous " probably originally "having the right or desirable quality," from Proto-Germanic *gōda- "fitting, suitable" (source also of Old Frisian god, Old Saxon gōd, Old Norse goðr, Middle Dutch goed, Dutch goed, Old High German guot, German gut, Gothic goþs).
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