Hly2004  +  304994 Mon, 18 Dec 06 09:28 AM Hi, everyone: Could you tell me the origin of the phrase "for good (and all/always)"? I have some difficulty understanding "good", and "for good" as "forever" Best wishes Hly2004 Joined on Sun, Nov 20 2005 Regular Member 717

	Mister Micawber  +  305026 Mon, 18 Dec 06 10:53 AM The origin seems to be lost in the sands of time-- at least I cannot find an explanation in my bookcase or online; the idiom goes back to the 16th century: OED Definition: "As a valid conclusion; hence, as a final act, finally."  Quotations include these: : 15.. (Parl. Byrdes) Than desyred all the Byrdes great and smal to mewe the hauke for good and all. : 1687 (Congreve) Ay, you may take him for good-and-all if you will. : 1711 (Swift) 4 July, This day I left Chelsea for good, (that's a genteel phrase). : 1850 (J. H. Newman) Throw off, for good and all, the illusions of your intellect. : 1882 (W. E. Forster) This morning we released Parnell--not for good, but on parole. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,507 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Idioms