can
1
[ kan; unstressed kuh n ]
/ kæn; unstressed kən /
auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person can, 2nd can or (Archaic) canst, 3rd can, present plural can; past singular 1st person could, 2nd could or (Archaic) couldst, 3rd could, past plural could.
verb (used with or without object), present singular 1st person can, 2nd can or (Archaic) canst, 3rd can, present plural can; past singular 1st person could, 2nd could or (Archaic) couldst, 3rd could, past plural could; imperative can; infinitive can; past participle could; present participle cun·ning.
Obsolete.
to know.
Origin of can
1usage note for can
Can1 and
may1 are frequently but not always interchangeable in senses indicating possibility:
A power failure can (or
may )
occur at any time. Despite the insistence by some, that
can means only “to be able” and
may means “to be permitted,” both are regularly used in seeking or granting permission:
Can (or
May )
I borrow your tape recorder? You can (or
may )
use it tomorrow. Sentences using
can occur chiefly in spoken English.
May in this sense occurs more frequently in formal contexts:
May I address the court, Your Honor? In negative constructions,
can't or
cannot is more common than
may not :
You can't have it today. I need it myself. The contraction
mayn't is rare.
Can but and cannot but are formal and now somewhat old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no possible alternative to doing something. Can but is equivalent to can only : We can but do our best. Cannot but is the equivalent of cannot help but : We cannot but protest against these injustices. See also cannot, help.
Can but and cannot but are formal and now somewhat old-fashioned expressions suggesting that there is no possible alternative to doing something. Can but is equivalent to can only : We can but do our best. Cannot but is the equivalent of cannot help but : We cannot but protest against these injustices. See also cannot, help.
Words nearby can
camrose,
camshaft,
camus,
camwood,
caméra stylo,
can,
can buoy,
can do with,
can of worms,
can opener,
can tho
Definition for can (2 of 4)
can
2
[ kan ]
/ kæn /
noun
verb (used with object), canned, can·ning.
Origin of can
2
before 1000; Middle English, Old English
canne, cognate with German
Kanne, Old Norse
kanna, all perhaps < West Germanic; compare Late Latin
canna small vessel
Definition for can (3 of 4)
Definition for can (4 of 4)
British Dictionary definitions for can (1 of 3)
can
1
/ (kæn, unstressed kən) /
verb past could (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) (intr)
used as an auxiliary to indicate ability, skill, or fitness to perform a task
I can run a mile in under four minutes
used as an auxiliary to indicate permission or the right to something
can I have a drink?
used as an auxiliary to indicate knowledge of how to do something
he can speak three languages fluently
used as an auxiliary to indicate the possibility, opportunity, or likelihood
my trainer says I can win the race if I really work hard
Word Origin for can
Old English
cunnan; related to Old Norse
kunna, Old High German
kunnan, Latin
cognōscere to know, Sanskrit
jānāti he knows; see
ken,
uncouth
undefined can
See
may 1
British Dictionary definitions for can (2 of 3)
can
2
/ (kæn) /
noun
verb cans, canning or canned
Word Origin for can
Old English
canne; related to Old Norse, Old High German
kanna, Irish
gann, Swedish
kana sled
British Dictionary definitions for can (3 of 3)
Can.
abbreviation for
Canada
Canadian
Idioms and Phrases with can
can