no-good

The compound 'no-good' is a straightforward English formation from the negative particle 'no' and the adjective 'good'. It emerged in the late 19th to early 20th century, primarily in American English, as a colloquial and emphatic way to denote the complete absence of worth or utility. The logic is transparently literal: something that is "not good" in any respect. Its evolution from a simple descriptive phrase to a hyphenated adjective and noun reflects a process of lexicalization, where a common syntactic construction solidifies into a single lexical unit with a specific, often judgmental, meaning.

Structure: no + good - no: From Old English 'nā', a compound of 'ne' (not) + 'ā' (ever). A negative particle. - good: From Old English 'gōd', meaning virtuous, desirable, or valid. An adjective describing positive quality.