luck

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Good things that happen to you by chance rather than through your own effort.

   It was my good luck to be there at just the right moment.

2. 2
   noun

   The force that seems to make good or bad things happen by chance.

   The raffle is just a matter of luck.

3. 3
   noun

   Success in finding or achieving something.

   I looked everywhere for the book but had no luck.

Common collocations

• bad luck Adjective + noun
• good luck Adjective + noun
• have luck Verb + noun
• wish someone luck Verb + noun
• bring luck Verb + noun
• pure luck Adjective + noun
• sheer luck Adjective + noun

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, ge…

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