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. Guy Harvey:

   I could have taken all that money and blown it on a big sports fishing boat, we choose to invest it into knowledge and generating more knowledge.

2. Matthew Rycroft:

   It’s a huge threat to international peace and security that DPRK now appears to have the capability to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile that could in theory hit the UK, could hit most Europe, could hit most of the United States.

3. Daniel Clifton:

   He's basically going around and meeting with investors and trying to give them an analytical framework for how Washington and global politics works, these are people who are trained in finance. They're numerical people. They're interested in interest rates and cash flow and they're not attuned to this monster called Washington that could throw all that hard work out of the window.

4. Kelsie Stone:

   Some of the comments have them mentioning how they liked what they saw, how could they get some of that or whatever, i've been called a whore for even sending pictures like that in the first place.

5. Ashley Theophane:

   Remember, even when Muhammad Ali was fighting Muhammad Ali was hated ! They went against Muhammad Ali on the Muslim thing, the Vietnam thing -- Muhammad Ali wasn't much liked when boxing, it was only after. But that era was different to the sportsmen around now, it's different times and a different society, the pictures of him with all Muhammad Ali money might inspire folks too, you know ? It might inspire a lot of kids to think if Muhammad Ali's done it then I could do it too.

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