I. _wəd, _(ə)d, (|)wu̇d
Etymology: Middle English wolde, wulde, wold, from Old English wolde; akin to Old High German wolta wished, desired, Old Norse vilda, Gothic wilda — more at will
past of will
1.
a. archaic : wished, desired , intended
he would that they should go
b. archaic : wish for : want
what would these people
they would a word with us
c.
(1) : strongly desire : wish
I would I had brought better news — W.S.Gilbert
we would all were perfect — Edward Sapir
(2) — used in auxiliary function with rather or sooner to express preference between alternatives
his flock would rather let him starve than increase the living by one penny — Emily Brontë
he would sooner die than face them
2.
a. — used in auxiliary function to express wish, desire, or intent
the problem of him who would determine the … pattern of a language — Internat'l Journal of American Linguistics
would unite the nations of America into a real system — C.R.Fish
b. — used in auxiliary function to express willingness or preference
as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise — Lk 6:31 (Authorized Version)
parents would have their children do well
c. — used in auxiliary function to express plan or intention
promised that we would correct … mistakes — Virginia Prewett
deciding that they would visit as many friends as possible
d. — used in auxiliary function in the negative to express refusal
contrary to advice he would not have an auxiliary engine in his boat
despite a good offer, he would have none of it
e. — used in auxiliary function to express disposition or inclination
would express the opinion that the … question has been practically settled — Norman Douglas
would propose that all candidates be accepted
would like to recommend a series of articles — R.C.Pooley
f. — used in auxiliary function to express insistence or determination
regardless of warnings he would play with fire
the child would have its way
he would not be crossed
you might expect that he would not be deterred
3. — used in auxiliary function to express custom or habitual action
we would meet every morning — O.S.J.Gogarty
the swagman would for long periods be without … female company — William Power
he would stand … blows without winking or shedding a tear — Emily Brontë
4. — used in auxiliary function to express consent or choice
could be helped if he would only do his part
would put it off indefinitely if he could
5.
a. — used in auxiliary function in the conclusion of a conditional sentence to express a contingency or possibility
if he were coming, he would be here now
had all the possibilities been ruled out, we would have had to accept all three — Z.S.Harris
would have done it myself but for my temporary incapacitation — Sir Winston Churchill
b.
(1) — used in auxiliary function in the conclusion of a conditional sentence to express volition or intention
if I were a librarian, I would put this book in … my display — Pearl Buck
if we had thought that the institute was a school, we would never have come — Time
(2) — used in auxiliary function in a statement of advice or recommendation based on the implied condition if I were you
I would go today while the weather is pleasant
telling them he wouldn't take any such risk, he ordered them to go home
c. — used in auxiliary function in a noun clause completing a statement of desire, request, or advice
we wish that he would go
the express desire of his parents was that he would finish school
prefer that she would not go again
6.
a. — used in auxiliary function to express futurity from a point of view in the past
kept on looking for … the money that would solve his problems — E.L.Acken
the lowness of his funds would presently compel his return — John Buchan
proposed a council … whereby peace would be preserved — F.L.Schuman
b. — used in auxiliary function to express probability or presumption in past or present time
the hands of the watch show that it would be about five o'clock that it was submerged
no one, for example, could have predicted … whether or not his pistol would have missed fire — L.A.White
at this time of day the fire would have burned low — P.H.Newby
from his appearance he would be the one we are looking for
7. : could
no stone would shatter that glass
the barrel would hold 20 gallons
8. — used in auxiliary function to express a request with which voluntary compliance is expected
would you please help us
9. obsolete : ought to
that would be scanned — Shakespeare
10. — used in auxiliary function to express doubt or uncertainty
the explanation … would seem to go deeper — F.H.Hartmann
for the survival of our society it would appear essential — Dorothy Barclay
the mechanics of transmitting the sound were perfect, I would say — Philip Hamburger
11. : should
knew I would enjoy the trip
would be glad to know the answer
feel that we would recognize them easily
if you would be interested, I could arrange an interview
it was ordered that he would go
II. ˈwu̇d noun
( -s )
: a conditional or undecided wish or intention
a life of inaction cluttered with woulds
III.
variant of weld