An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/gut

by Friedrich Kluge

gut, adj., ‘good, virtuous, skilful,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. guot; a common Teut. term unknown to the non-Teut. languages; comp. Goth. gôds, OIc. gôðr, AS. gôd, E. good, Du. goed. Its connection with Gr. ἀγαθός is phonetically uncertain. Only in Teut. are found reliable cognates which may elucidate the primary meaning of gut (yet comp. OSlov. godŭ, ‘suitable time’?). The cognates of Gatte, with which E. together, to gather, Goth. gadiliggs, ‘relative,’ also seem to be connected, prove that the prim. meaning of gut is ‘belonging to one another, suitable.’ For the comparison of the adj. see baß, besser.