cope 1
— copeless , adj. — copelessness , n.
/kohp/ , v. , coped, coping .
v.i.
1. to struggle or deal, esp. on fairly even terms or with some degree of success (usually fol. by with ): I will try to cope with his rudeness.
2. to face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties, esp. successfully or in a calm or adequate manner: After his breakdown he couldn't cope any longer.
3. Archaic. to come into contact; meet (usually fol. by with ).
v.t.
4. Brit. Informal. to cope with.
5. Obs. to come into contact with; encounter.
[ 1300-50; ME coupen couper to strike, deriv. of coup COUP 1 ]
Syn. 1. wrestle, strive, persevere.
cope 2
/kohp/ , n. , v. , coped, coping .
n.
1. a long mantle, esp. of silk, worn by ecclesiastics over the alb or surplice in processions and on other occasions.
2. any cloaklike or canopylike covering.
3. the sky.
4. a coping.
5. Metall. the upper half of a flask. Cf. drag (def. 32).
v.t.
6. to furnish with or as if with a cope or coping.
[ 1175-1225; ME capa, var. of cappa CAP 1 ]
cope 3
/kohp/ , v.t., coped, coping .
1. Building Trades.
a. to join (two molded wooden members) by undercutting the end of one of them to the profile of the other so that the joint produced resembles a miter joint (usually fol. by in or together ).
b. to form (a joint between such members) in this way.
c. to undercut the end of (a molded wooden member) in order to form a coped joint.
d. to cut away (a flange of a metal member) so that it may be joined to another member at an angle.
2. Falconry. to clip or dull (the beak or talons of a hawk).
[ 1565-75; couper to cut; see COPE 1 ]
cope 4
/kohp/ , v.t., coped, coping . Brit.
to barter; trade; exchange.
[ 1400-50; late ME copen côpen to buy ]