Godwin

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God·win

(gŏd′wĭn), William 1756-1836.

British writer and political theorist who believed in the perfectibility of human nature and maintained that people could live harmoniously without laws and institutions. His most important work is Enquiry Concerning Political Justice (1793).

Godwin

(ˈɡɒdwɪn)

1. (Biography) died 1053, Earl of Wessex. He was chief adviser to Canute and Edward the Confessor. His son succeeded Edward to the throne as Harold II

2. (Biography) Mary. See (Mary) Wollstonecraft

3. (Biography) William. 1756–1836, British political philosopher and novelist. In An Enquiry concerning Political Justice (1793), he rejected government and social institutions, including marriage. His views greatly influenced English romantic writers

God•win

(ˈgɒd wɪn)

n.

1. Also, God•wi•ne (ˈgɒd wɪ nə) Earl of the West Saxons, died 1053, English statesman.

2. Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759–97, English women's rights activist and writer (mother of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley).

3. her husband, William, 1756–1836, English political philosopher and writer.

References in classic literature ?

After Jonathan's return to Ireland his uncle, Godwin Swift, seems to have taken charge of him, and when he was six to have sent him to a good school.

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She was thinking of her evening dresses for the visit to Sir Godwin Lydgate's, which she had long been secretly hoping for as a delightful employment of at least one quarter of the honeymoon, even if she deferred her introduction to the uncle who was a doctor of divinity (also a pleasing though sober kind of rank, when sustained by blood).

I hope your uncle Sir Godwin will not look down on Rosy, Mr.

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Edward the Confessor had a palace here, and here the great Earl Godwin was proved guilty by the justice of that age of having encompassed the death of the King's brother.

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Yes, pretty well; but Godwin insists on my keeping it up constantly for some time to come.

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George Godwin refuses to speak to his son about the past, and Peter returns to New York with his questions unanswered.

A white African experience of identity, survival and holocaust memory

DOUBLE Olympic medallist Tommy Godwin has died aged 91.

OLYMPIC HERO DIES; Tributes to Midland cyclist Tommy

Craig Godwin set the fire after spending the day boozing with friends in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead.

DOG KILLER ARSONIST IS JAILED FOR FIVE YEARS; Firebug tried to blame friend for huge house blaze

Breaking 80 by David Godwin Stepping onto the first tee of a golf club can, as any Saturday morning hacker will confirm, be a daunting experience, particularly if you're playing in a competition.

Golfing tale's right on par; BOOKREVIEW

Tommy Godwin had a baseball mitt just like any American boy might have.

Cyclist revisits glory of '48; Making do in austerity

William Godwin (1756-1836) will be chiefly known to the readers of this journal as the founder of philosophical anarchism in Britain and author of the famous Enquiry Concerning Political Justice (1st ed.

David O'Shaughnessy. William Godwin and the Theatre

Leslie Godwin was a teenager when he left Cardiff for the Far East to serve in the RAF.