luckily
UK: ˈlʌk.ɪ.li | US: ˈlʌk.ɪ.li
adv. in a fortunate or favorable manner
adv. used to express relief or gratitude for a positive outcome
luckily = luck<fortune> + ily<adverb suffix>
- luck: From Middle Dutch luc (short for gheluc, "happiness"), or Middle High German gelücke ("fortune"). Originally neutral (good or bad fortune), later specialized to mean "good fortune."
- ily: A common adverb-forming suffix derived from Old English -līce, meaning "in the manner of."
Etymology Origin:
The word "luckily" combines the concept of fortune ("luck") with an adverbial suffix ("-ily") to describe an action occurring by favorable chance. Its evolution reflects the human tendency to linguistically mark positive outcomes as distinct from neutral or negative ones. The Germanic root gelücke originally encompassed all fate but narrowed to "good fortune" in English, likely due to cultural optimism.
Luckily, the rain stopped before the outdoor concert began.
She forgot her keys but luckily found a spare under the mat.
The train was delayed, but luckily I had a book to pass the time.
Luckily, no one was injured in the car accident.
He missed the bus but luckily caught a ride with a coworker.