could

Something that could happen, or could be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.

Noun

  1. 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. - 1996, Fred Shoemaker,...
    • Shushona you must learn to rightfully prioritize all the woulds, shoulds and coulds of your life. - 2010, Shushona Novos, The Personal Universal: A Guidebook for Spiritual Evolution, page 395:

Origin

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). 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).

Forms

coulds coulde couldst couldest could'st coud cou'd

Verb

  1. simple 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.
  2. conditional of can
    • "If I'd had a paddle I could've spun by that dashed root," Meekins said, feeling some apology due for the mishap. "When I first climbed out of that fool creek I thought my arm had got twisted off, but I guess it ain't."...
    • I think he could do it if he really wanted to.
    • I wish I could fly!

    1. Used as a past subjunctive (contrary to fact).

    2. Used to politely ask for permission to do something.

      • Could I borrow your coat?

    3. 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?

    4. 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 Hollywood, the...
      • We could rearrange the time if you like.

    5. Used to suggest something.

      • You could try adding more salt to the soup.
  3. past participle of can
    • I haven't could sleep. - 1981, Anthony Warner, English Auxiliaries: Structure and History, published 1993, →ISBN, page 222:

Forms

coulde couldst couldest could'st coud cou'd

Related

can should would

Derived

chud could care less could do could I get the bill could we get the bill could not get elected dogcatcher couldn't could use could've you could cut the air with a knife