would
• modal verb (3rd sing. present would) 1 past of WILL1, in various senses. 2 (expressing the conditional mood) indicating the consequence of an imagined event. 3 expressing a desire or inclination. 4 expressing a polite request. 5 expressing a conjecture or opinion. 6 literary expressing a wish or regret. — USAGE On the difference between would and should, see the note at SHOULD.
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