'ld

See also: ld, LD, ld., and Ld.

English

Verb

'ld

1. Contraction of would.

   Synonym: 'd

   • 1599 (first performance), B. I. [i.e., Ben Jonson], The Comicall Satyre of Euery Man out of His Humor. […], London: […] [Adam Islip] for William Holme, […], published 1600, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, signature D, verso:

     Gods pretious, come away man, what do you mean? and you knew him as I do, you’ld ſhun him, as you’ld do the plague?

   • 1915, Rupert Brooke, Lithuania: A Drama in One Act (Stewart Kidd Modern Plays), Cincinnati, Oh.: Stewart Kidd Company […], →OCLC, page 8:

     Who’d want anything here, to rob us? And is it likely any one ’ld want me? And Anna—Anna ’ld give them more than they came for. She’s stronger than most men.

   • 1932, Alec Waugh, “The Slave-trader”, in No Quarter, London, […]: Cassell and Company, […], →OCLC, page 125:

     There was no risk, he said. He liked life as much as anyone. If there were any risk he’ld be the first to dodge it.

   • 1966, John Betjeman, “Narcissus”, in High and Low, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, section “Light and Dark”, page 58:

     We’ld go for walks, we bosom boyfriends would / (For Bobby’s watching sisters drove us mad), / And when we just did nothing we were good, / But when we touched each other we were bad.