“would” – English explanatory dictionary

modal verb 1. used as a polite way of asking someone to do something ○ Would you please stop talking? ○ Would someone please tell me where the library is? ○ Would you like some more tea? 2. used as the past of ‘will’ ○ He said he would be here for lunch. ○ She hoped she would be well enough to come. ○ He wouldn’t go even if I paid him. 3. used as the past of ‘will’, showing something which often happens ○ He would bring his dog with him, even though we asked him not to. ○ Naturally the car wouldn’t start when we were in a hurry. ○ My husband forgot my birthday again this year – he would! 4. used for showing something which often happened in the past ○ Every morning she would go and feed the chickens. ○ He would always be there waiting outside the station. ○ They would often bring us flowers. 5. used following a condition ○ I’m sure that if they could come, they would. ○ I would’ve done it if you had asked me to. ○ If she were alive, she would or she’d be a hundred years old today. ○ If it snowed we would or we’d go skiing. (NOTE: the negative would not is usually written wouldn’t. Note also that would is often shortened to ’d: she’d be a hundred, he’d stay at home. Note also that would is only used with other verbs and is not followed by to)

imp. of Will. [OE. & AS. wolde. See Will, v. t.] Commonly used as an auxiliary verb, either in the past tense or in the conditional or optative present. See 2d & 3d Will. Would was formerly used also as the past participle of Will. “Right as our Lord hath would.” Chaucer.

n. See 2d Weld.