v.aux. (3rd sing. would) past of WILL(1), used esp.: 1 (in the 2nd and 3rd persons, and often in the 1st: see SHOULD). a in reported speech (he said he would be home by evening). b to express the conditional mood (they would have been killed if they had gone). 2 to express habitual action (would wait for her every evening). 3 to express a question or polite request (would they like it?; would you come in, please?). 4 to express probability (I guess she would be over fifty by now). 5 (foll. by that + clause) literary to express a wish (would that you were here). 6 to express consent (they would not help). would-be often derog. desiring or aspiring to be (a would-be politician).
[ OE wolde, past of wyllan: see WILL(1) ]