An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gunst

by Friedrich Kluge

Gunst, feminine, ‘favour, partiality, permission,’ from Middle High German and Middle Low German gunst, masculine, and feminine, ‘benevolence, permission,’ for *geunst, allied to Old High German gi-unnan (see gönnen); in Old High German unst, feminine (Middle High German also gund; compare Old Icelandic ǫfund, ‘disfavour’), Gothic ansts, ‘favour, mercy,’ Anglo-Saxon êst, Old High German anst, ‘favour, mercy.’