An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Geschichte

by Friedrich Kluge

Geschichte, feminine, ‘occurrence, narration, tale, history,’ from Middle High German geschiht, Old High German gisciht, feminine, ‘event, occurrence, cause of an event, dispensation’ (Middle High German also ‘affair, manner, stratum'; see Schicht); abstract of geschehen. Similarly Modern High German Geschick, ‘fate, destiny, dexterity,’ is based upon Middle High German geschicke, neuter, ‘event, order, formation, figure,’ as the abstract of Modern High German schicken. —