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). 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).
When I was young everybody could easily find a job in a matter of days.
2 more examples
When I was your age, I could run 10mi in under an hour.
I could only find the street, but I couldn't locate his house.
› conditional of can
2
Used as a past subjunctive (contrary to fact).
"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."1921, William Alexander Fraser, Red Meekins, George H. Doran Company, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 32:
I think he could do it if he really wanted to.
2 more examples
I wish I could fly!
I'd have thought you could have done the dishes, at least.
3
Used to politely ask for permission to do something.
Could I borrow your coat?
4
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?
5
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 subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.2013 June 29, “Travels and travails”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 55:
We could rearrange the time if you like.
6
Used to suggest something.
You could try adding more salt to the soup.
7
Participle, Past past participle of can
Obsolete except Geordie
I haven't could sleep.1981, Anthony Warner, English Auxiliaries: Structure and History, published 1993, →ISBN, page 222:
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). 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).
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, Extraordinary Golf: The Art of the Possible, page 88:
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: