Search results for 'should':

should auxiliary verb expressing: 1 obligation, duty or recommendation; ought to • You should brush your teeth regularly. 2 likelihood or probability • He should have left by now. 3 a condition • If she should die before you, what would happen?; b with first person pronouns the consequence of a condition • I should never be able to live with myself if that happened. 4 with first person pronouns a past tense of shall in reported speech • I told them I should be back soon. See note at shall. 5 statements in clauses with that, following expressions of feeling or mood • It seems odd that we should both have had the same idea. 6 with first person pronouns doubt or polite indirectness in statements • I should imagine he's left • I should think I'll get the job • I should like to thank you all for coming. 7 literary purpose • in order that we should not have to leave.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon sceolde.