Definitions for could
kʊd; unstressed kədcould

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. couldverb

   simple past tense of can

   Before I was blind, I could see very well.

2. couldverb

   conditional of can Used as a past subjunctive. Used to politely ask for permission to do something. Used to politely ask for someone else to do something. Used to show the possibility that something might happen. Used to suggest something.

   I think he could do it if he really wanted to.

3. Etymology: From Middle English coude, couthe, cuthe, from Old English cūþe, past indicative and past subjunctive form of cunnan ("to be able") (compare related cūþ, whence English couth). The silent 'l' was added in the early 16th century by analogy with should and would, at which time the 'l' in those words was already also silent (and was sometimes not written, leading to shudd, wode, etc).[1]

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Couldthe imperfect preterite of can.

   Was able to; had power to.

   And if I have done well, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I desired; but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain unto. 2 Mac. xv. 38.

   What if he did not all the ill he could?
   Am I oblig’d by that t’ assist his rapines,
   And to maintain his murders? John Dryden, Spanish Fryar.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. could

   The English modal verbs are a subset of the English auxiliary verbs used mostly to express modality (properties such as possibility, obligation, etc.). They can be distinguished from other verbs by their defectiveness (they do not have participle or infinitive forms) and by their neutralization (that they do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular). The principal English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, and must. Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals; these include ought, had better, and (in certain uses) dare and need. Verbs which share only some of the characteristics of the principal modals are sometimes called "quasi-modals", "semi-modals", or "pseudo-modals".

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. could

   Could is a modal verb that is used to indicate possibility or ability in conditional or hypothetical situations. It suggests that something is likely or feasible but not certain, or that someone has the potential or capability to do something.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Could

   of Can

2. Could

   was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible. Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional present

3. Etymology: [OF. coude. The l was inserted by mistake, under the influence of should and would.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Could

   kood, pa.t. of Can. [M. E. coude, couth—A.S. cúðe for cunðe, was able; l is inserted from the influence of would and should.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'could' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #62

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'could' in Written Corpus Frequency: #88

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'could' in Verbs Frequency: #14

Anagrams for could »

1. cloud

How to pronounce could?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say could in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of could in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of could in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of could in a Sentence

1. Republican Mike Pence:

   I can’t wait, clinton's record on foreign affairs alone could take up the whole 90 minutes. … I kind of hope we get to talk about our records as well because they’re just a little bit different. When Tim Kaine was governor, he actually tried to raise taxes by $4 billion in four years.

2. Lily Jacqueline:

   It's a big step forward, maybe we could have a common contract for all domestic workers and force employers to abide by it.

3. Stephen Curry:

   Prayers up to KD. Kevin Durant gave us what Kevin Durant could and we hope Kevin Durant makes a speedy recovery, kevin Durant sacrificed Kevin Durant body for us and I just feel bad for Kevin Durant.

4. Holly Dickson:

   What we're seeing in Arkansas is the most dangerous assault on the right to vote since the Jim Crow era, these bills don't just make it harder to vote, they also make it easier for partisan politicians to interfere with local election administrators -- something that could have disastrous consequences for democracy. These bills will make it harder for all voters -- of all political stripes -- to make their voices heard.

5. Bob Baffert:

   I wasn’t as nervous as I usually am before these because I really felt I had the horse, when I saddled him I could tell. I told Victor in the paddock, 'Dude, he is ready, ride him with confidence.’ And he did.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Could
2. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=could
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Could
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/could
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=could