would: Meaning and Definition of

would

Pronunciation: (wood unstressed w&schwad), [key]
— v.
  1. a pt. and pp. of.
  2. (used to express the future in past sentences): He said he would go tomorrow.
  3. (used in place of will, to make a statement or form a question less direct or blunt): That would scarcely be fair. Would you be so kind?
  4. (used to express repeated or habitual action in the past): We would visit Grandma every morning up at the farm.
  5. (used to express an intention or inclination): Nutritionists would have us all eat whole grains.
  6. (used to express a wish): Would he were here!
  7. (used to express an uncertainty): It would appear that he is guilty.
  8. (used in conditional sentences to express choice or possibility): They would come if they had the fare. If the temperature were higher, the water would evaporate.
  9. (used with a past participle to express unfulfilled intention or preference): I would have saved you some but Jimmy took it all.
  10. (used to express desire): I would like to go next year.
  11. See(def. 7).

would

Pronunciation: (wōld)), [key]
— n.
  1. weld.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.