couldn't

couldn’t of —   ‘Couldn’t of got it without you, Pops,’ Parker said.. . (New Yorker). As a shortened form of couldn’t have, couldn’t of does unquestionably avoid the clumsy double contraction couldn’t’ve, a form not often seen in print since J. D. Salinger… …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

couldn't of —     Couldn t of got it without you, Pops/ Parker said (New Yorker). As a shortened form of couldn t have, couldrit of does unquestionably avoid the clumsy double contraction couldntve, a form not often seen in print since J. D. Salinger stopped… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

couldn't — by 1670s, contraction of COULD (Cf. could) + NOT (Cf. not) …   Etymology dictionary

couldn't — (could not) v. used to express the fact that one is unable or unwilling to do something; used to express the impossibility of an occurrence …   English contemporary dictionary

couldn't — ► CONTRACTION ▪ could not …   English terms dictionary

couldn't — [kood′ nt] contraction could not …   English World dictionary

COULDN'T — contr. could not. * * * /ˈkʊdn̩t/ used as a contraction of could not I tried but I couldn t do it. couldn t care less see ↑care, 2 …   Useful english dictionary

couldn't — [[t]k ʊd(ə)nt[/t]] Couldn t is the usual spoken form of could not …   English dictionary

couldn't — [ˈkʊd(ə)nt] short form the usual way of saying or writing ‘could not . This is not often used in formal writing I couldn t go to her party.[/ex] …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

couldn't — Date: 1646 could not …   New Collegiate Dictionary

couldn't — /kood nt/ contraction of could not. Usage. See care, contraction. * * * …   Universalium