___-a, should-a, would-a

auxiliary verb

1. Used in auxiliary function in the past
2. —used in auxiliary function in the past, in the past conditional, and as an alternative to can suggesting less force or certainty or as a polite form in the present

verb

1. Be physically or mentally able to

   "He can lift 200 pounds."

2. Know how to

   "She can read."

3. Used to indicate possibility
4. Be inherently able or designed to

   "everything that money can buy"

5. Be enabled by law, agreement, or custom to

   "Congress can declare war."

6. Be permitted by conscience or feeling to

   "can hardly blame her"

7. Be made possible or probable by circumstances to

   "He can hardly have meant that."

8. Be logically or axiologically able to

   "2 + 2 can also be written 3 + 1."

9. Have permission to
10. To be able to do, make, or accomplish
11. Know, understand
12. To have knowledge or skill

idiom

1. Used to say that a particular choice, action, etc., is not a bad one

idiom

1. Used to say that something seems very surprising or doubtful based on one's own observations

idiom

1. Used to say that one feels definitely sure about something though it appears not to be true

idiom

1. Used to mean that someone looked at one in a very angry way

idiom

1. Used to say that something someone else has said is completely untrue

idiom

1. Used to say that someone is not thinking about or considering something

idiom

1. Used to say that something is absolutely not true

idiom

1. Used to say that something is very strong or intense