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could - 8 dictionary results

could

  [kood; unstressed kuhd]
Use could in a Sentence
–verb
1. a pt. of can 1 .
–auxiliary verb
2. (used to express possibility): I wonder who that could be at the door. That couldn't be true.
3. (used to express conditional possibility or ability): You could do it if you tried.
4. (used in making polite requests): Could you open the door for me, please?
5. (used in asking for permission): Could I borrow your pen?
6. (used in offering suggestions or advice): You could write and ask for more information. You could at least have called me.
Origin:
ME coude, OE cūthe; modern -l- (from would, should ) first attested 1520–30

Usage note:
See care.

can

1  [kan; unstressed kuhn] auxiliary verb and verb, present singular 1st person can, 2nd can or (Archaic) canst, 3rd can, present plural can; past singular 1st person could, 2nd could or (Archaic) couldst, 3rd could, past plural could. For auxiliary verb: imperative, infinitive, and participles lacking. For verb (Obsolete): imperative can; infinitive can; past participle could; present participle cun⋅ning.
–auxiliary verb
1. to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: She can solve the problem easily, I'm sure.
2. to know how to: He can play chess, although he's not particularly good at it.
3. to have the power or means to: A dictator can impose his will on the people.
4. to have the right or qualifications to: He can change whatever he wishes in the script.
5. may; have permission to: Can I speak to you for a moment?
6. to have the possibility: A coin can land on either side.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
7. Obsolete. to know.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE, pres. ind. sing. 1st, 3rd person of cunnan to know, know how; c. G, ON, Goth kann; see ken, know

Usage note:
Can1 and may1 are frequently but not always interchangeable in senses indicating possibility: A power failure can (or may) occur at any time. Despite the insistence by some, that can means only “to be able” and may means “to be permitted,” both are regularly used in seeking or granting permission: Can (or May) I borrow your tape recorder? You can (or may) use it tomorrow. Sentences using can occur chiefly in spoken English. May in this sense occurs more frequently in formal contexts: May I address the court, Your Honor? In negative constructions, can't or cannot is more common than may not: You can't have it today. I need it myself. The contraction mayn't is rare.
Can but and cannot but are formal and now somewhat old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no possible alternative to doing something. Can but is equivalent to can only: We can but do our best. Cannot but is the equivalent of cannot help but: We cannot but protest against these injustices. See also cannot, help.

can

2  [kan] noun, verb, canned, can⋅ning.
–noun
1. a sealed container for food, beverages, etc., as of aluminum, sheet iron coated with tin, or other metal: a can of soup.
2. a receptacle for garbage, ashes, etc.: a trash can.
3. a bucket, pail, or other container for holding or carrying liquids: water can.
4. a drinking cup; tankard.
5. a metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels.
6. Slang: Usually Vulgar. toilet; bathroom.
7. Slang. jail: He's been in the can for a week.
8. Slang: Sometimes Vulgar. buttocks.
9. Military Slang.
a. a depth charge.
b. a destroyer.
–verb (used with object)
10. to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc.
11. Slang. to dismiss; fire.
12. Slang. to throw (something) away.
13. Slang. to put a stop to: Can that noise!
14. to record, as on film or tape.
—Idioms
15. carry the can, British and Canadian Slang. to take the responsibility.
16. in the can, recorded on film; completed: The movie is in the can and ready for release.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME, OE canne, c. G Kanne, ON kanna, all perh. < WGmc; cf. LL canna small vessel
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To could
can 1   (kān; kən when unstressed)   
aux.v.   Past tense could (kŏŏd)
    1. Used to indicate physical or mental ability: I can carry both suitcases. Can you remember the war?
    2. Used to indicate possession of a specified power, right, or privilege: The President can veto congressional bills.
    3. Used to indicate possession of a specified capability or skill: I can tune the harpsichord as well as play it.
    4. Used to indicate possibility or probability: I wonder if my long lost neighbor can still be alive. Such things can and do happen.
    5. Used to indicate that which is permitted, as by conscience or feelings: One can hardly blame you for being upset.
    6. Used to indicate probability or possibility under the specified circumstances: They can hardly have intended to do that.
    1. Used to indicate possibility or probability: I wonder if my long lost neighbor can still be alive. Such things can and do happen.
    2. Used to indicate that which is permitted, as by conscience or feelings: One can hardly blame you for being upset.
    3. Used to indicate probability or possibility under the specified circumstances: They can hardly have intended to do that.
  3. Usage Problem Used to request or grant permission: Can I be excused?

[Middle English, first and third person sing. present tense of connen, to know how, from Old English cunnan; see gnō- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: Generations of grammarians and teachers have insisted that can should be used only to express the capacity to do something, and that may must be used to express permission. But children do not use can to ask permission out of a desire to be stubbornly perverse. They have learned it as an idiomatic expression from adults: After you clean your room, you can go outside and play. As part of the spoken language, this use of can is perfectly acceptable. This is especially true for negative questions, such as Can't I have the car tonight? probably because using mayn't instead of can't sounds unnatural. Nevertheless, in more formal usage the distinction between can and may still has many adherents. Only 21 percent of the Usage Panel accepts can instead of may in the sentence Can I take another week to submit the application? The heightened formality of may sometimes highlights the speaker's role in giving permission. You may leave the room when you are finished implies that permission is given by the speaker. You can leave the room when you are finished implies that permission is part of a rule or policy rather than a decision on the speaker's part. For this reason, may sees considerable use in official announcements: Students may pick up the application forms tomorrow.
could   (kŏŏd)   
aux.v.   Past tense of can1
  1. Used to indicate ability or permission in the past: I could run faster then. Only men could go to the club in those days.
  2. Used with hypothetical or conditional force: If we could help, we would.
  3. Used to indicate tentativeness or politeness: I could be wrong. Could you come over here?
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : could
Spanish: pasado del verbo ``poder'',
German: pret. von `können`,
Japanese: canの過去形
More Translations »

could 
O.E. cuðe, pt. of cunnan "to be able" (see can (v.)); ending changed 14c. to standard Eng. -d(e). The -l- was added 16c. on model of would, should, where it is historic.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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could

see can (could) do with; see with half an eye, could. Also see under can; couldn't.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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