could

Meaning

Verb

1. (form-of, past) simple past of can
2. conditional of can
3. conditional of can
4. conditional of can
5. conditional of can
6. conditional of can
7. (form-of, participle, past) past participle of can

Noun

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

can

• Verb
• Intj
• Particle
• Noun

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Synonyms

might

may

can

should

able to

obtain

ought to

perhaps

possible

really

shall

she

👩

it

🇮🇹

able

be likely

get

he

👨

indeed

must

Translations

könnte

kann

see can

konnte

konntest

modal

pouvoir

put

purent

verbe modal

postria

hulpwerkwoord

modaal werkwoord

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kʊd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: coude

Inherited from Old English: cūþe

In summary

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 -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).

Sentences

And nobody could accept that answer .

He could destroy you quite by accident .

Man could not conquer them .

He could sell the stones and buy a return ticket .

It was said that he could cross half of Spain without leaving his possessions .

The boy could certainly resist causing that kind of anxiety for the baker .