'goodness' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'gōdnes,' where 'gōd' meant 'good' and '-nes' was a suffix forming nouns.

'gōdnes' transformed into the Middle English word 'goodnesse,' and eventually became the modern English word 'goodness'.

Initially, it meant 'the state of being good,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.