luck

luck
{{11}}luck (n.) late 15c. from early M.Du. luc, shortening of gheluc "happiness, good fortune," of unknown origin. It has cognates in Du. geluk, M.H.G. g(e)lücke, Ger. Glück "fortune, good luck." Perhaps first borrowed in English as a gambling term. To be down on (one's) luck is from 1832; to be in luck is from 1900; to push (one's) luck is from 1911. Good luck as a salutation to one setting off to do something is from 1805. Expression better luck next time attested from 1802.
A gentleman was lately walking through St Giles's, where a levelling citizen attempting to pick his pocket of a handkerchief, which the gentleman caught in time, and secured, observing to the fellow, that he had missed his aim, the latter, with perfect sang-froid, answered, "better luck next time master."  [“Monthly Mirror,” London, 1802]
{{12}}luck (v.) by 1945, from LUCK (Cf. luck) (n.). To luck out "succeed through luck" is Amer.Eng. colloquial, attested by 1946; to luck into (something good) is from 1944. However, lukken was a verb in Middle English (mid-15c.) meaning "to happen, chance;" also, "happen fortunately."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Luck — ist der Name folgender Orte: Luck (North Carolina), ein Ort in den USA Luck (Wisconsin), ein Ort in den USA Luzk (polnisch: Łuck), ein Ort in der Ukraine Luck (Oberösterreich), ein Ort in Österreich deutscher Name des tschechischen Ortes Luka u… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lück — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Angela Lück (* 1959), deutsche Politikerin (SPD), Landtagsabgeordnete in Nordrhein Westfalen Anne Lück (* 1979), deutsche Illustratorin Conradine Lück (1885−1959), deutsche Pädagogin, Schriftstellerin,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • luck — ► NOUN 1) success or failure apparently brought by chance. 2) chance considered as a force causing success or failure. 3) good fortune. ► VERB informal 1) (luck into/upon) chance to find or acquire. 2) (luck …   English terms dictionary

  • luck — [luk] n. [ME lucke, prob. < MDu luk, contr. < gelucke < ODu * gilukki (> Ger glück, fortune, good luck) < ? IE base * leug , to bend (> LEEK, LOCK1): basic sense “what bends together,” hence, “what occurs, what is fitting, lucky …   English World dictionary

  • Luck — Luck, n. [Akin to D. luk, geluk, G. gl[ u]ck, Icel. lukka, Sw. lycka, Dan. lykke, and perh. to G. locken to entice. Cf. 3d {Gleck}.] That which happens to a person; an event, good or ill, affecting one s interests or happiness, and which is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • luck — luck·en; luck·i·ly; luck·i·ness; luck·less; luck·less·ly; luck·less·ness; luck·now; un·luck; luck; mis·luck; luck·ie; …   English syllables

  • luck — [n1] good fortune advantage, big break*, blessing, break*, fluke*, fortunateness, godsend*, good luck, happiness, health, in the cards*, karma*, kismet*, luckiness, lucky break*, occasion, opportunity, profit, prosperity, run of luck*,… …   New thesaurus

  • luck|y — «LUHK ee», adjective, luck|i|er, luck|i|est. 1. having good luck: »a lucky person. SYNONYM(S): happy. See syn. under …   Useful english dictionary

  • Luck — Luck, WI U.S. village in Wisconsin Population (2000): 1210 Housing Units (2000): 572 Land area (2000): 1.849465 sq. miles (4.790091 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.593145 sq. miles (1.536238 sq. km) Total area (2000): 2.442610 sq. miles (6.326329 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Luck, WI — U.S. village in Wisconsin Population (2000): 1210 Housing Units (2000): 572 Land area (2000): 1.849465 sq. miles (4.790091 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.593145 sq. miles (1.536238 sq. km) Total area (2000): 2.442610 sq. miles (6.326329 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • luck|i|ly — «LUHK uh lee», adverb. by good luck; fortunately …   Useful english dictionary

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