What does "gozaimasu" mean?
I had the impression that it means "very" (from arigatou gozaimasu) but the podcast I'm listening to opens with Japanese Podu ichi-maru-ichi de gozaimasu (JapanesePod101). In this context, what does gozaimasu mean? And what are the different uses of the word?

Question

Answer

in that case gozaimasu is used as"desu"
and it is also another form of "aru"

"gozaimasu" is used with HUMILITY
some japanese uses it to show their politeness,and in wrong ways:(
for example, "nanika syumi wa gozaimasuka?(do you have some hobbies?)" is WRONG
u must use "oaridesuka?" instead of it :)
And "irassyaru" instead of gozaimasu that means"desu",when you want to express your politeness

Answer

de gozaimasu = desu

"gozaimasu" is the neutral polite form of "arimasu".
In order to replace "desu" you use "de gozaimasu".

Answer

"gozaimasu" doesn't mean "very". In Japanese there are some modesty words. "gozaimasu" is modesty word of "desu".

Answer

in this context 'gozaimasu' is politer form of 'desu', but i think this use is not very often