Adjacent Words

Could definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

COULD, pron. COOD. [The past tense of can, according to our customary arrangement in grammar; but in reality a distinct word, can having no past tense. Could, we receive through the Celtic dialects.]
1. Had sufficient strength or physical power. A sick man could not lift his hand. Isaac was old and could not see. Alexander could easily conquer the effeminate Asiatics.
2. Had adequate means or instruments. The men could defray their own expenses. The country was exhausted and could not support the war.
3. Had adequate moral power. We heard the story, but could not believe it. Th intemperate man could have restrained his appetite for strong drink. He could have refrained, if we would.
My mind could not be towards this people. Jeremiah 15.
4. Had power or capacity b the laws of its nature. The tree could not grow for want of water.
5. Had competent legal power; had right, or had the requisite qualifications. Formerly, a citizen could not vote for officers of government without the possession of some property. AB could not be elected to the office of senator, for want of estate. BC, not being the blood of the ancestor, could not inherit his estate.
6. Had sufficient capacity. The world could not contain the books. John 21.
7. Was capable or susceptible, by its nature or constitution, as of some change. He found a substance that could not be fused.
8. Had adequate strength or fortitude; as, he could not endure the pain or the reproach.
9. Had motives sufficient to overcome objections. He thought at first he could not comply with the request; but after consideration he determined to comply.
10. Had competent knowledge or skill. He could solve the most difficult problems.

Merriam Webster's

verbal auxiliary, past of can Etymology: Middle English couthe, coude, from Old English c?the; akin to Old High German konda could Date: 13th century — used in auxiliary function in the past <we found we could go>, in the past conditional <we said we would go if we could>, and as an alternative to can suggesting less force or certainty or as a polite form in the present <if you could come we would be pleased>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

past of CAN(1).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Can Can, v. t. & i. Note: [The transitive use is obsolete.] [imp. Could.] [OE. cunnen, cannen (1st sing. pres. I can), to know, know how, be able, AS. cunnan, 1st sing. pres. ic cann or can, pl. cunnon, 1st sing. imp. c[=u][eth]e (for cun[eth]e); p. p. c[=u][eth] (for cun[eth]); akin to OS. Kunnan, D. Kunnen, OHG. chunnan, G. k["o]nnen, Icel. kunna, Goth. Kunnan, and E. ken to know. The present tense I can (AS. ic cann) was originally a preterit, meaning I have known or Learned, and hence I know, know how. [root]45. See Ken, Know; cf. Con, Cunning, Uncouth.] 1. To know; to understand. [Obs.] I can rimes of Rodin Hood. --Piers Plowman. I can no Latin, quod she. --Piers Plowman. Let the priest in surplice white, That defunctive music can. --Shak. 2. To be able to do; to have power or influence. [Obs.] The will of Him who all things can. --Milton. For what, alas, can these my single arms? --Shak. M[ae]c[ae]nas and Agrippa, who can most with C[ae]sar. --Beau. & Fl. 3. To be able; -- followed by an infinitive without to; as, I can go, but do not wish to. Syn: Can but, Can not but. It is an error to use the former of these phrases where the sens requires the latter. If we say, ``I can but perish if I go,'' ``But'' means only, and denotes that this is all or the worst that can happen. When the apostle Peter said. ``We can not but speak of the things which we have seen and heard.'' he referred to a moral constraint or necessety which rested upon him and his associates; and the meaning was, We cannot help speaking, We cannot refrain from speaking. This idea of a moral necessity or constraint is of frequent occurrence, and is also expressed in the phrase, ``I can not help it.'' Thus we say. ``I can not but hope,'' ``I can not but believe,'' ``I can not but think,'' ``I can not but remark,'' etc., in cases in which it would be an error to use the phrase can but. Yet he could not but acknowledge to himself that there was something calculated to impress awe, . . . in the sudden appearances and vanishings . . . of the masque --De Quincey. Tom felt that this was a rebuff for him, and could not but understand it as a left-handed hit at his employer. --Dickens.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Could Could (k??d), imp. of Can. [OF. coude. The l was inserted by mistake, under the influence of should and would.] Was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible. Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional present.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: 'Could' is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. 'Could' is sometimes considered to be the past form of 'can', but in this dictionary the two words are dealt with separately. 1. You use could to indicate that someone had the ability to do something. You use could not or couldn't to say that someone was unable to do something. For my return journey, I felt I could afford the extra and travel first class... I could see that something was terribly wrong... When I left school at 16, I couldn't read or write... There was no way she could have coped with a baby around. MODAL 2. You use could to indicate that something sometimes happened. Though he had a temper and could be nasty, it never lasted... He could be very pleasant when he wanted to. MODAL 3. You use could have to indicate that something was a possibility in the past, although it did not actually happen. He could have made a fortune as a lawyer... He did not regret saying what he did but felt that he could have expressed it differently. MODAL 4. You use could to indicate that something is possibly true, or that it may possibly happen. Doctors told him the disease could have been caused by years of working in smokey clubs... An improvement in living standards could be years away... = might MODAL 5. You use could not or couldn't to indicate that it is not possible that something is true. Anne couldn't be expected to understand the situation... He couldn't have been more than fourteen years old. MODAL 6. You use could to talk about a possibility, ability, or opportunity that depends on other conditions. Their hope was that a new and better East Germany could be born... I knew that if I spoke to Myra, I could get her to call my father. MODAL 7. You use could when you are saying that one thing or situation resembles another. The charming characters she draws look like they could have walked out of the 1920s. MODAL 8. You use could, or couldn't in questions, when you are making offers and suggestions. I could call the local doctor... You could look for a career abroad where environmental jobs are better paid and more secure... It would be a good idea if you could do this exercise twice or three times on separate days. MODAL 9. You use could in questions when you are making a polite request or asking for permission to do something. Speakers sometimes use couldn't instead of 'could' to show that they realize that their request may be refused. Could I stay tonight?... Could I speak to you in private a moment, John?... He asked if he could have a cup of coffee... Couldn't I watch you do it? MODAL [politeness] 10. People sometimes use structures with if I could or could I as polite ways of interrupting someone or of introducing what they are going to say next. (FORMAL, SPOKEN) Well, if I could just interject... Could I ask you if there have been any further problems?... First of all, could I begin with an apology for a mistake I made last week? = may MODAL [politeness] 11. You use could to say emphatically that someone ought to do the thing mentioned, especially when you are annoyed because they have not done it. You use why couldn't in questions to express your surprise or annoyance that someone has not done something. We've come to see you, so you could at least stand and greet us properly... Idiot! You could have told me!... He could have written... Why couldn't she have said something?... MODAL [emphasis] 12. You use could when you are expressing strong feelings about something by saying that you feel as if you want to do the thing mentioned, although you do not do it. 'Welcome back' was all they said. I could have kissed them!... She could have screamed with tension. MODAL [emphasis] 13. You use could after 'if' when talking about something that you do not have the ability or opportunity to do, but which you are imagining in order to consider what the likely consequences might be. If I could afford it I'd have four television sets... If only I could get some sleep, I would be able to cope. MODAL 14. You use could not or couldn't with comparatives to emphasize that someone or something has as much as is possible of a particular quality. For example, if you say 'I couldn't be happier', you mean that you are extremely happy. The rest of the players are a great bunch of lads and I couldn't be happier... The news couldn't have come at a better time. MODAL [emphasis] 15. In speech, you use how could in questions to emphasize that you feel strongly about something bad that has happened. How could you allow him to do something like that?... How could she do this to me?... MODAL [emphasis] 16. could do with: see do