Chapter Golden Valley to Good Samaritan of G by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Goneril One of Lear's three daughters. Having received her moiety of Lear's kingdom, the unnatural daughter first abridged the old man's retinue, then gave him to understand that his company was troublesome. (Shakespeare: King Lear.)

Gonfalon or Gonfanon. An ensign or standard. A gonfalonier is a magistrate that has a gonfalon. (Italian, gonfalone; French, gonfalon; Saxon, guth-fana, war-flag.) Chaucer uses the word gonfanon; Milton prefers gonfalon. Thus he says: -

"Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced,
Standards and gonfalons, 'twixt van and rear
Stream in the air, and for distinction serve
Of hierarchies [3 syl.], of orders, and degrees."
Paradise Lost, v. 589.

Gonfanon The consecrated banner of the Normans. When William invaded England, his gonfanon was presented to him by the Pope. It was made of purple silk, divided at the end like the banner attached to the "Cross of the Resurrection." When Harold was wounded in the eye, he was borne to the foot of this sacred standard, and the English rallied round him; but his death gave victory to the invaders. The high altar of Battle Abbey marked the spot where the gonfanon stood, but the only traces now left are a few stones, recently uncovered, to show the site of this memorable place.

Gonin C'est un Maitre Gonin. He is a sly dog. Maitre Gonin was a famous clown in the sixteenth century. "Un tour de Maitre Gonin " means a cunning or scurvy trick. (See Aliboron.)

Gonnella's Horse Gonnella, the domestic jester of the Duke of Ferrara, rode on a horse all skin and bone. The jests of Gonnella are in print.

"His horse was as lean as Gonnella's, which (as the Duke said) `Osso atque pellis totus erat' (Plautus)" - Cervantes: Don Quixote.

Gonsalez [Gon-zalley ]. Fernan Gonsalez was a Spanish hero of the tenth century, whose life was twice saved by his wife Sancha, daughter of Garcias, King of Navarre. The adventures of Gonsalez have given birth to a host of ballads.

Gonville College (Cambridge). The same as Caius College, founded in 1348 by Edmond Gonville, son of Sir Nicholas Gonville, rector of Terrington, Norfolk. (See Caius College.)

Good The Good.
   Alfonso VIII. (or IX.) of Leon, "The Noble and Good." (1158-1214.)
   Douglas (The good Sir James), Bruce's friend, died 1330.
   Jean II. of France, le Bon. (1319, 1350-1364.)
   Jean III., Duc de Bourgogne. (1286, 1312-1341.)
   Jean of Brittany, "The Good and Wise." (1287, 1389-1442.)
   Philippe III., Duc de Bourgogne, (1396, 1419-1467.)
   Réné, called The Good King Réné, titular King of Naples. (1439- 1452.)
   Richard II., Duc de Normandie (996-1026.)
   Richard de Beauchamp, twelfth Earl of Warwick, Regent of France. (Died 1439.)

Good-bye A contraction of God be with you. Similar to the French adieu, which is à Dieu (I commend you to God).
    Some object to the substitution of "God" in this phrase, reminding us of our common phrases good day, good night, good morning, good evening; "Good be with ye" would mean may you fare well, or good abide [with you].

Good-Cheap The French bon marché, a good bargain. "Cheap" here means market or bargain. (Anglo- Saxon, ceap.)

Good Duke Humphrey Humphrey Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester, youngest son of Henry IV., said to have been murdered by Suffolk and Cardinal Beaufort. (Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI., iii. 2.)
    Called "Good," not for his philanthropy, but from his devotion to the Church. He was an out-and-out Catholic.

Good Folk (Scotch guid folk) are like the Shetland land-Trows, who inhabit the interior of green hills. (See Trows.)

Good Form, Bad Form Comme il faut, bon ton; mauvais ton, comme il ne faut pas. Form means fashion, like the Latin forma.