pouvoir — meaning in English
French → English · translate English → French instead
English meaning
- ability noun The capacity or power to do something.
- can verb To be able to do something, or to know how to do it.
- force noun Strength or power exerted to move, influence, or affect something.
- may verb Used to say that something is possible or might happen.
- might aux Used to show that something is possible, though not certain.
- OK adj All right; acceptable, permitted, or satisfactory.
- potency noun The strength or power of something, such as a drug or an argument.
- power noun The ability to do something, or to control and influence people or events.
- would verb Used to describe what someone was going to do, from the point of view of the past.
Senses
pouvoir is used for these senses in English:
- OK All right, acceptable, permitted.
- ability (uncountable) The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
- can (modal, _, auxiliary, _, verb, defective, informal) May; to be permitted or enabled to.
- can (Manglish, Singlish, intransitive) To be fine or acceptable; to be possible; (with liao or already) to be enough. Often used in conjunction with a variety of clause-final particles, e.g., lah, meh or one, to express different attitudes towards the subject matter.
- force Ability to influence; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect.
- force (countable) A group organized for the goal of attacking, controling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group).
- may (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests. [from 9th c.]
- might (countable, uncountable) Power, strength, force, or influence held by a person or group.
ability — full definition
- noun The capacity or power to do something.
- noun A particular skill or talent.
can — full definition
- verb To be able to do something, or to know how to do it.
- verb Used to say something is allowed or permitted.
- noun A sealed metal container, especially for food or drink.
- verb To preserve food by sealing it in an airtight can or jar.
- verb Informally, to dismiss someone from a job, or to scrap a plan.