I. ˈkōp noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English -cāp, from Medieval Latin capa, from Late Latin cappa — more at cap
1.
a. archaic : a long cape or cloak especially for outdoor wear
b. : an originally hooded ecclesiastical vestment in the form of a long semicircular cloak open in front except at the top where it is united by a band or clasp
2. : something felt to resemble a cope (as by concealing or covering over) : a vault or canopy (as the vault, arch, or expanse of heaven)
the dark sky's starry cope — P.B.Shelley
3. : coping
4. : a muzzle for a ferret
5.
a. : the top part of a flask, mold, or pattern ; also : the brick structure in which the outer surface of a loam mold is formed
b. : the outer case in bell founding
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English copen, from cope, n.
transitive verb
: to dress, cover, or furnish with a cope : cover as if with a cope or a coping
intransitive verb
: to form a cope or arch : bend , arch
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English copen, coupen, from Middle French couper to strike, cut off, cut, from Old French, from coup blow, from Late Latin colpus, from Latin colaphus blow with the fist, from Greek kolaphos buffet; akin to Greek klan to break — more at halt
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : strike , fight
2.
a. : to maintain a contest or combat usually on even terms or with success — used with with
how effectively he can cope with local law-enforcement agencies — D.W.Maurer
b. : to face or encounter and to find necessary expedients to overcome problems and difficulties
he died before the war. He couldn't have coped now — Rose Thurburn
— often used with with
cope intelligently with weighty problems of public policy — C.H.Grandgent
3. archaic : meet , encounter
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to meet in combat
he yesterday coped Hector in the battle — Shakespeare
2. obsolete : come in contact with : meet
3. obsolete : match
three thousand ducats due unto the Jew we freely cope your courteous pains withal — Shakespeare
Synonyms: see contend
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English copen to buy, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German koufōn to buy — more at cheap
dialect England : exchange , barter
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably from French couper to cut
1. : to notch or cut away a part of (as a timber or a structural-steel flange) to fit or give clearance for some other member
2. : to cut or shape (the end of a structural member or a molding) to fit a coping or conform to the shape of another member ; also : to make (a joint) by so shaping a joining part