can1
• modal verb (3rd sing. present can; past could) 1 be able to. 2 used to express doubt or surprise: he can’t have finished. 3 used to indicate that something is typically the case: he could be very moody. 4 be permitted to. — USAGE On whether it is better to use can or may when requesting permission, see the note at MAY. — ORIGIN Old English, know .
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