What does Could mean?
Definitions for Could
kʊd; unstressed kədcould
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Could.
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Wiktionary
couldverb
simple past tense of can
Before I was blind, I could see very well.
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.
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 Dictionary
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.
Wikipedia
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".
ChatGPT
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 Dictionary
Could
of Can
Could
was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible. Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional present
Etymology: [OF. coude. The l was inserted by mistake, under the influence of should and would.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
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
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'Could' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #62
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'Could' in Written Corpus Frequency: #88
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'Could' in Verbs Frequency: #14
Anagrams for Could »
cloud
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of Could in Chaldean Numerology is: 5
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of Could in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of Could in a Sentence
This could be a real new beginning for Deutsche Bank.
I took it out like I usually do and just kind of relied on my training to bring me home, simona was having a great race and pulled up right next to me and when she did that I kind of felt like I could stick with her and rely on my speed.
The Playboy Sultan is getting on in years now, and The Playboy Sultan family hasn't always had the cleanest of reputations, certainly, there are a lot of people talking about the hypocrisy of laws that The Playboy Sultan and The Playboy Sultan government are implementing when The Playboy Sultan family, in the past, could have been seen as being in violation of these laws with some of their antics.
I think I helped the company, I think I did, and I think few could deny that some of my influence, maybe some, helped them to buy more stock, and that's all I'm trying to do again.
Deputy Countryman Jr.’s heroic efforts have made Atlanta news and we could not be more proud, we are so thankful that these two children were saved and that Deputy Countryman Jr. was close by. His quick-thinking and ability to remain calm under pressure is to be commended. Job well done!
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Translations for Could
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- استطاعArabic
- mohlCzech
- kunneDanish
- kGerman
- θα μπορούσεGreek
- podríaSpanish
- می تواندPersian
- voisiFinnish
- pourraitFrench
- सकता हैHindi
- tudottHungarian
- bisaIndonesian
- potevaItalian
- הָיָה יָכוֹלHebrew
- 可能性Japanese
- 할 수 있었다Korean
- potuit,Latin
- konDutch
- kunneNorwegian
- mógłbyPolish
- poderiaPortuguese
- ar puteaRomanian
- могRussian
- KundeSwedish
- முடிந்தTamil
- చేయగలిగిTelugu
- ได้Thai
- olabilirTurkish
- моUkrainian
- کر سکتے تھےUrdu
- có thểVietnamese
- קעןYiddish
- 可以Chinese
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"Could." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Could>.
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