Glück German · revision 35467

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1160, early courtly poetry}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɡlʏk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Glück''' ''n'' (genitive Glückes or Glücks, no plural)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|gelücke|t=fate, chance]], first recorded in the early courtly poetry of about 1160.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) The word spread over the German-speaking area from the Rhine and the north-west together with the culture of chivalry.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|331) Duden and Wiktionary take it as [[bor|dum|ghelucke]] or its forerunner [[odt|*gilukki]], from the Flemish knightly world;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) Middle Low German [[m|gml|gelucke]] stands between.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) Kluge, too, starts from this Low Franconian form.^(Kluge 2011|364)

+

+ Its further origin is unknown.^(Kluge 2011|364)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) Kluge, following Sanders, explains it as a loan translation of [[fro|destinee|alt=destinée|t=determination; fate]], with a Low Franconian word for “what is decided”, from [[gem-pro|*lūkaną|t=to close, shut]], also in [[got|𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌿𐌺𐌰𐌽|tr=galūkan|t=to lock up]].^(Kluge 2011|364)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)^(Duden 7 2020|331) The older connection with [[gelingen]] “to succeed” is rejected by the Grimms' dictionary, because that verb is foreign to Low Franconian, where the word arose.^(DWB|8, 226)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ From Middle Low German and Middle Dutch the word was borrowed as [[ofs|lukk]], [[enm|lukke]] (now [[en|luck]]), and Scandinavian forms such as [[sv|lycka]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|8, 226)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In its first records Middle High German ''gelücke'' meant “fate, the outcome of an event”, for good or for bad, and was often personified, like Latin ''fortuna''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) It competed with the older words for good fortune, ''sælde'' (see [[selig]]) and ''heil'' (see [[Heil]]).^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|331) Köbler lists the ''Alexanderlied'' of Lamprecht (1150–1170) as an early source.^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Already in Middle High German the word narrowed to “a favourable outcome, success”, and in the 14th century it could also mean “occupation, livelihood”.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|331) Finally it came to mean the inner state of contentment and joy, as in Goethe's ''welch ein Glück, geliebt zu werden''.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ Phrases record the history: ''sein Glück versuchen'' goes back to Middle High German, ''sein Glück machen'' “to make one's fortune” to the late 17th century, and the miners' greeting ''Glück auf!'', from the Erzgebirge, to the 17th century.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden 7 2020|331)^(Duden GWDS 1999) Derivatives include [[Glückskind]] (16th century), and [[Glückspilz]], in the 18th century “upstart”, perhaps after [[en|mushroom]], but since the later 19th century “lucky person”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|331) The word was borrowed as [[cs|klika]] “luck”.^(LWP)

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+ The sources differ on the date: Pfeifer and Paul give 1160, Kluge the 13th century, and Wahrig a first record around 1300 in Franconia.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)^(Kluge 2011|364)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1160 – First records of Middle High German ''gelücke'' in courtly poetry.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 14th century – The sense “livelihood, occupation” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 15th century – Middle English ''lukke'' is borrowed from Low German or Dutch.^(DWB|8, 226)

+ * 16th century – ''Glückskind'' is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1621 – First record of the miners' greeting ''Glück auf!''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * Late 17th century – ''sein Glück machen'' “to make one's fortune”.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – ''Glückspilz'' “upstart” and ''Glücksritter'' “adventurer”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|331)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|luck]], good fortune: a fortunate chance or coincidence: ''Wir hatten Glück mit dem Wetter.'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''auf gut Glück'', at random, hoping for the best;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''zum Glück'', luckily.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Fortune personified, [[m|en|Fortuna]]: ''Das Glück war ihm hold.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # [[m|en|happiness]]: a state of deep contentment and joy: ''das Glück der jungen Eltern''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A happy moment or event.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[beglücken]]

+ * [[glücken]]

+ * [[glücklich]]

+ * [[glückselig]]

+ * [[Glückshaube]]

+ * [[Glückskind]]

+ * [[Glückspilz]]

+ * [[Glücksrad]]

+ * [[Glücksritter]]

+ * [[Unglück]]

+ * [[verunglücken]]

+ * [[Anfängerglück]]

+ * [[glückbringend]]

+ * [[glücklos]]

+ * [[Glücksbringer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|luck]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Proverbs include ''Jeder ist seines Glückes Schmied'' “everyone forges their own fortune” and ''Glück und Glas, wie leicht bricht das'' “luck and glass, how easily they break”.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Glück auf!'' is the traditional miners' greeting, formed in the Erzgebirge to distinguish it from the general ''Glück zu!''; airmen's ''Glück ab!'' was modelled on it.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden 7 2020|331)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}