might could

English

Etymology

In many Germanic languages and dialects modals can be stacked to combine their meanings; compare Scots micht cud.

Verb

might could

1. (double modal / stacked modal, used in some dialects, chiefly Southern US) might be able to (used to soften "could" or make it even more conditional)
   • 1972-1991, Cyrus Colter, The Rivers of Eros →ISBN, page 133 [1]:

     "Grammaw, Mr. Hammer said today you know things you won't talk about. That if he knew more about what's goin' on he might could go to the police, or to a lawyer, and maybe have Dunreith Smith arrested again."

   • 2002-3, Michael Johnston, In the Deep Heart's Core →ISBN, page 172 [2]:

     "He might could go there anyway and stay on academic probation for a year and then start running, but they won't accept him if he don't have a high school diploma."

See also

• might can, might should
• double modal, stacked modal; modal stacking

References

• Nagle, Stephen J. (1994) “The English Double Modal Conspiracy”, in Diachronica, volume 11, number 2, Coastal Carolina University: John Benjamins Publishing Company, →ISSN, pages 199-212