/kəd/, [kʰəd], /kʊd/
OriginFrom 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). Cognate with German konnte, Swedish kunde.
The -l- in the spelling was added in the early 16th century by analogy with should and would; this analogy formerly affected the pronunciation as well and was probably assisted by the tendency for /l/ to be lost in those words (and so not written, leading to shudd, wode, etc).
- form-of, pastsimple past of can
“Before I was blind, I could see very well.”
“When I was young everybody could easily find a job in a matter of days.”
“When I was your age, I could run 10mi in under an hour.”
- Used as a past subjunctive (contrary to fact).
“I think he could do it if he really wanted to.”
“I wish I could fly!”
“I'd have thought you could have done the dishes, at least.”
- Used to politely ask for permission to do something.
“Could I borrow your coat?”
- Used to politely ask for someone else to do something.
“Could you proofread this email?”
“I wonder, you couldn't loan me the money, could you?”
- Used to show the possibility that something might happen.
“Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Ho”
“We could rearrange the time if you like.”
- Used to suggest something.
“You could try adding more salt to the soup.”
- form-of, participle, pastpast participle of can
- Something that could happen, or could be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.
“When the golf ball is there, the whole self-interference package — the hopes, worries, and fears; the thoughts on how-to and how-not-to; the woulds, the coulds, and the shoulds — is there too.”
“Shushona you must learn to rightfully prioritize all the woulds, shoulds and coulds of your life.”
Formscoulde(alternative, archaic) · couldst(alternative, archaic, second-person, singular) · couldest(alternative, archaic, second-person, singular) · could'st(alternative, archaic, second-person, singular) · coud(alternative, obsolete) · cou'd(alternative, obsolete) · coulds(plural)