could

views updated May 18 2018

could / koŏd/ • modal verb past of can1 . ∎  used to indicate possibility: they could be right. ∎  used in making polite requests: could I use the phone? ∎  used in making suggestions: you could always phone him. ∎  used to indicate annoyance because of something that has not been done: they could have told me! ∎  used to indicate a strong inclination to do something: he irritates me so much that I could scream.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

could

views updated May 29 2018

could pt. of CAN 2.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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