good even Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 5 gud devon, 6 god deven, god den, 6–7, 9 (dial.) godden, -deen, good-den, 7 gooden, 9 arch. god'en. Also 6 in the phrase (see a) god(g)igoden, goddiggonden, 7 goddy-godden.
[See good a. 10 c.]
A form of salutation; = Good evening (but used at any time after noon: see Rom. & Jul. ii. iv. 116 ff.). a. In the phrase God give you good even (variously mutilated: see above in the Forms).
| 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 20 Tybert saide, The riche god yeue you good euen reynart. 1538 [see even n. 1]. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iv. i. 42 God dig-you-den all. 1591 ― Two Gent. ii. i. 104 Oh, 'giue ye-good-ev'n. 1592 ― Rom. & Jul. i. ii. 57 Godgigoden, I pray sir can you read. Ibid. ii. iv. 116 God ye gooden faire Gentlewoman. 1651 Randolph, etc. Hey for Honesty iv. iii, Goddy-godden, good father: pray which is the house where Plutus lives? |
b. ellipt.
| c 1420 Sir Amadas (Weber) 110 ‘Gud devon, dame’, seyd he. 1575 Gamm. Gurton iv. ii, God deuen, my friend Diccon; whether walke ye this pace? 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iv. ii. 85 Madam: good eu'n to your Ladiship. 1607 ― Cor. ii. i. 103 Godden to your Worships. Ibid. iv. vi. 20 Gooden our Neighbours. a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Wit. at Sev. Weap. iv. i, Oh good den to you. 1684 Yorksh. Dial. 483 (E.D.S. No. 76) Ist God Morn or God Deen, what sesta, Will? 1820 Scott Abbot xii, The..foreboding tone in which her niece had spoken her good-even. [1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss. s.v., ‘I give you godden’, good day, good luck; or ‘God speed you’.] |