cope

¹

[ kohp ]

verb (used without object)

, coped, cop·ing.

1. to struggle or deal, especially on fairly even terms or with some degree of success (usually followed by with ):

   The new heating and cooling system can cope with extremes of temperature much better than the old one.

   Synonyms: persevere, strive, wrestle

2. to face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties, especially successfully or in a calm or adequate manner:

   After his breakdown he couldn't cope any longer.

3. Archaic. to come into contact; meet (usually followed by with ).

verb (used with object)

, coped, cop·ing.

1. British Informal. to cope with.
2. Obsolete. to come into contact with; encounter.

cope

²

[ kohp ]

noun

1. a long mantle, especially of silk, worn by ecclesiastics over the alb or surplice in processions and on other occasions.
2. any cloaklike or canopylike covering.
3. the sky.
4. a coping on a wall.
5. Metallurgy. the upper half of a flask. Compare drag ( def 35 ).

verb (used with object)

, coped, cop·ing.

1. to furnish with or as if with a cope or coping.

cope

³

[ kohp ]

verb (used with object)

, coped, cop·ing.

1. Building Trades.
   1. to join (two molded wooden members) by undercutting the end of one of them to the profile of the other so that the joint produced resembles a miter joint (usually followed by in or together ).
   2. to form (a joint between such members) in this way.
   3. to undercut the end of (a molded wooden member) in order to form a coped joint.
   4. to cut away (a flange of a metal member) so that it may be joined to another member at an angle.
2. Falconry. to clip or dull (the beak or talons of a hawk).

cope

⁴

[ kohp ]

verb (used with object)

, British.

, coped, cop·ing.

1. to barter; trade; exchange.

cope

¹

/ kəʊp /

verb

1. to provide (a wall) with a coping
2. to join (two moulded timber members)

noun

1. another name for coping

cope

²

/ kəʊp /

noun

1. a large ceremonial cloak worn at solemn liturgical functions by priests of certain Christian sects
2. any covering shaped like a cope

verb

1. tr to dress (someone) in a cope

COPE

³

/ kəʊp /

acronym for

1. Congress of the People: a political party founded in 2008 by dissident members of the ANC

cope

⁴

/ kəʊp /

verb

1. intrfoll bywith to contend (against)
2. intr to deal successfully with or handle a situation; manage

   she coped well with the problem

3. archaic.
   tr
   1. to deal with
   2. to meet in battle

Other Words From

• copeless adjective
• copeless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cope¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English coupen, from Anglo-French, Old French couper “to strike,” derivative of coup “a blow”; coup ¹

Origin of cope²

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Medieval Latin cāpa, variant of cappa “hooded cloak”; cap ¹

Origin of cope³

First recorded in 1565–75; from French couper “to cut”; cope ¹

Origin of cope⁴

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English copen, from Low German; compare Middle Dutch côpen “to buy”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cope¹

C17: probably from French couper to cut; see cope ¹

Origin of cope²

Old English cāp, from Medieval Latin cāpa, from Late Latin cappa hooded cloak; see cap

Origin of cope³

C14: from Old French coper to strike, cut, from coup blow; see coup ¹

Example Sentences

This year will likely be the warmest on record, with emissions of planet warming gases still rising, while the impacts of warming often outpace the ability of countries to cope.

From BBC

This failure to cope lies partly with the changing nature of the drug market itself.

From Salon

Her son is now eight months old and she is weaning him off formula but Clare says she felt "like a failure" because she couldn't breastfeed and then had to cope with the additional cost of buying formula.

From BBC

Ukrainian air defences are struggling to cope with the surging numbers.

From BBC

He said he became unable to cope and considered taking his life, saying: "I didn’t really feel anything, I just felt empty."

From BBC

Related Words

• confront
• endure
• get by
• grapple
• handle
• suffer
• survive
• wrestle