gelingen German · revision 35128

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=863–871, Otfrid}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɡəˈlɪŋən/, [ɡəˈlɪŋŋ̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gelingen''' (class 3 strong, third-person singular present gelingt, past tense gelang, past participle gelungen, past subjunctive gelänge, auxiliary sein)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|gelingen]], [[inh|goh|gilingan|t=to succeed]], formed with the prefix [[m|goh|gi-]] (modern [[ge-]]).^(Kluge 2011|344)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) An unprefixed verb is found as [[m|gmh|lingen|t=to go forward, prosper]] and [[gml|lingen|t=to succeed, thrive]],^(Kluge 2011|344)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Lexer 1872|1, 1926) and it survives in [[misslingen]].^(Duden 7 2020) Wiktionary sets up [[gmw-pro|*lingwan]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The verb is found only in German, and Kluge sees no further connection.^(Kluge 2011|344)^(Pfeifer 1993) Pfeifer and Duden link it with [[leicht]], [[Lunge]] and [[lungern]], from a nasalized form [[ine-pro|*lengʷʰ-]] of the root [[m|ine-pro|*legʷʰ-|t=light in movement and weight]], so that it would first have meant “to go easily or quickly”;^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)^(Duden GWDS 1999) the same root gives [[la|levis|t=light, quick]].^(Duden 7 2020)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''gilingan'' is found in Otfrid (863–871) and Notker, used impersonally with a dative, as in ''ubilo gilingan'' “to fare badly”.^(Köbler AHD)^(EWA|5, 1315)^(Schützeichel 2012|202) Notker also has ''missilingan'' “to come to grief”.^(EWA|5, 1315)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle High German and still in Early New High German the verb was impersonal: ''mir gelingt'' meant “I succeed”, as in Luther's ''dem wird gelingen'' (Micah 6:9), where later editions add ''es''.^(Paul 2002) Early New High German also formed the perfect with ''haben'', as in Luther's ''es hat jnen gelungen'' (1 Maccabees 2:47),^(Paul 2002) and Adelung found this still in parts of Upper Germany.^(Adelung 1793) Since the 19th century the past participle ''gelungen'' has often meant “successful, well done”, as in ''ein gelungener Abend''.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|5, 3031) The noun ''das Gelingen'' “success” is used by Luther and Goethe.^(DWB|5, 3035) An unprefixed ''lingen'' was still known in Swiss German in the 19th century,^(Wiktionary DE) and the verb lives on in [[yi|געלינגען|tr=gelingen]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 863–871 – Otfrid uses Old High German ''gilingan''.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * c. 1000 – Notker uses ''missilingan''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * c. 1170 – Middle High German ''gelingen'' in the Rolandslied.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 16th century – Luther uses the impersonal construction and a perfect with ''haben''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 19th century – ''gelungen'' comes into frequent use as an adjective.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(intransitive, with sein)'' To [[m|en|succeed]], turn out well, of a plan or effort; with a dative of the person who succeeds: ''Es gelang ihr, den letzten Zug zu erreichen.'' ''Der Braten ist gut gelungen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Gelingen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[misslingen]]

+ * [[leicht]]

+ * [[Lunge]]

+ * [[lungern]]

+ * [[gelangen]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The past participle ''gelungen'' is common as an adjective meaning “successful, well done”: ''eine gelungene Feier''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002) The opposite is [[misslingen]].^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}