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Luck
Definitions
- 1 A surname transferred from the given name.
- 1 Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence. uncountable, usually
"The raffle is just a matter of luck."
- 2 an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another wordnet
- 3 Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence.; A favourable chance occurrence. especially, uncountable, usually
"Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to get success."
- 4 an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome wordnet
- 5 A superstitious feeling that brings fortune or success. uncountable, usually
"He blew on the dice for luck."
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- 6 your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you) wordnet
- 7 Success. uncountable, usually
"I tried for ages to find a pair of blue suede shoes, but didn't have any luck."
- 8 The results of a random number generator. uncountable, usually
"The creators of tool-assisted speedruns often manipulate luck to get the most favorable results in order to save the most time."
- 1 To find something through good fortune; used with into, on, onto or upon. informal, intransitive
"I lucked upon a seat, settled in, nodded off and 20 minutes later heard my name being called by the admitting nurse."
Etymology
From Middle English luk, lukke, related to Old Frisian luk (“luck”), West Frisian gelok (“luck”), Saterland Frisian Gluk (“luck”), Dutch geluk (“luck, happiness”), Low German luk (“luck”), German Glück (“luck, good fortune, happiness”), Danish lykke (“luck”), Swedish lycka (“luck”), Icelandic lukka (“luck”). According to the OED, it may be related to lock. A loanword into English in the 15th century (probably as a gambling term) from Middle Dutch luc, a shortened form of gheluc (“good fortune”), whence Modern Dutch geluk. Middle Dutch luc, gheluc has parallels with Middle High German lücke, gelücke (Modern German Glück). The word occurs only from the 12th century, apparently first in Rhine Frankish. Perhaps from a Frankish *galukki. The word enters standard Middle High German during the 13th century, and spreads to English and Scandinavian in the Late Middle Ages. Its origin seems to have been regional or dialectal, and there were competing German words such as gevelle or schick, or the Latinate fortūne from Latin fortūna. Its etymology is unknown, although there are numerous proposals as to its derivations from a number of roots. Use as a verb in American English is late (1940s), but there was a Middle English verb lukken (“to chance, to happen by good fortune”) in the 15th century.
From Middle English luk, lukke, related to Old Frisian luk (“luck”), West Frisian gelok (“luck”), Saterland Frisian Gluk (“luck”), Dutch geluk (“luck, happiness”), Low German luk (“luck”), German Glück (“luck, good fortune, happiness”), Danish lykke (“luck”), Swedish lycka (“luck”), Icelandic lukka (“luck”). According to the OED, it may be related to lock. A loanword into English in the 15th century (probably as a gambling term) from Middle Dutch luc, a shortened form of gheluc (“good fortune”), whence Modern Dutch geluk. Middle Dutch luc, gheluc has parallels with Middle High German lücke, gelücke (Modern German Glück). The word occurs only from the 12th century, apparently first in Rhine Frankish. Perhaps from a Frankish *galukki. The word enters standard Middle High German during the 13th century, and spreads to English and Scandinavian in the Late Middle Ages. Its origin seems to have been regional or dialectal, and there were competing German words such as gevelle or schick, or the Latinate fortūne from Latin fortūna. Its etymology is unknown, although there are numerous proposals as to its derivations from a number of roots. Use as a verb in American English is late (1940s), but there was a Middle English verb lukken (“to chance, to happen by good fortune”) in the 15th century.
From the given name Luke.
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