good nature

UK/ɡʊdˈneɪtʃə/

noun

Habitual kindness or mildness of temper or disposition; amiability.

Opposite
ill nature
OriginMiddle English good nature ← Middle French bonne nature →
First used 15th c.
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Meanings

noungood nature (countable and uncountable, plural good natures)

plural good natures · alternative goodnature

  1. countableuncountableHabitual kindness or mildness of temper or disposition; amiability.First known use 15th c.

    the goodnature and generosity which belonged to his character

    1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XI, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC
    2 more examples

    I am disposed to think that Mrs. Butler Cornbury did Mrs. Tappitt an injury when she with so much ready goodnature accepted the invitation for the party […].

    1863, Anthony Trollope, Rachel Ray

    The young count's good nature and easy persuadability were among his best characteristics.

    1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun: Or, The Romance of Monte Beni. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna cheerful, obliging disposition

Opposite
ill nature
Broader
dispositiontemperament

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Frenchbonne nature
  2. Middle Englishgood nature
  3. Englishgood nature

From Middle English good nature, equivalent to good + nature, after Middle French bonne nature.

More words from Middle English, Middle French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

good nature. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20nature

MLA

“good nature.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20nature. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “good nature,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20nature.

Source: good nature on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.