Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Can
Can
,Noun.
[OE. & AS.
canne
; akin to D. Kan
, G. Kanne
, OHG. channa
, Sw. Kanna
, Dan. kande
.] 1.
A drinking cup; a vessel for holding liquids.
[Shak. ]
Fill the cup and fill
Have a rouse before the morn.
can
,Have a rouse before the morn.
Tennyson.
2.
A vessel or case of tinned iron or of sheet metal, of various forms, but usually cylindrical;
as, a
. can
of tomatoes; an oil can
; a milk can
☞ A can may be a cylinder open at the top, as for receiving the sliver from a carding machine, or with a removable cover or stopper, as for holding tea, spices, milk, oysters, etc., or with handle and spout, as for holding oil, or hermetically sealed, in canning meats, fruits, etc. The name is also sometimes given to the small glass or earthenware jar used in canning.
Can
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Canned
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Canning
.] To preserve by putting in sealed cans
[U. S.]
“Canned meats” W. D. Howells.
Can
,Verb.
T.
& I.
[The transitive use is obsolete.]
[
imp.
Could
(#)
.] [OE.
cunnen
, cannen
(1st sing. pres. I can
), to know, know how, be able, AS. cunnan
, 1st sing. pres. ic cann
or can
, pl. cunnon
, 1st sing. imp. cūðe
(for cunðe
); p. p. cūð
(for cunð
); akin to OS. Kunnan
, D. Kunnen
, OHG. chunnan
, G. können
, Icel. kunna
, Goth. Kunnan
, and E. ken
to know. The present tense I can
(AS. ic cann
) was originally a preterit, meaning I have known
or Learned
, and hence I know
, know how
. √45. See Ken
, Know
; cf. Con
, Cunning
, Uncouth
.] 1.
To know; to understand.
[Obs.]
I
can
rimes of Robin Hood. Piers Plowman.
I
can
no Latin, quod she. Piers Plowman.
Let the priest in surplice white,
That defunctive music
That defunctive music
can
. Shakespeare
2.
To be able to do; to have power or influence.
[Obs.]
The will of Him who all things
can
. Milton.
For what, alas,
can
these my single arms? Shakespeare
Mæcænas and Agrippa, who
can
most with Cæsar. Beau. & Fl.
Syn. –
Can but
, Can not but
. It is an error to use the former of these phrases where the sens requires the latter. If we say, “I can but perish if I go,” “But” means only, and denotes that this is all or the worst that can happen. When the apostle Peter said. “We can not but speak of the things which we have seen and heard.” he referred to a moral constraint or necessety which rested upon him and his associates; and the meaning was, We cannot help speaking, We cannot refrain from speaking. This idea of a moral necessity or constraint is of frequent occurrence, and is also expressed in the phrase, “I can not help it.” Thus we say. “I can not but hope,” “I can not but believe,” “I can not but think,” “I can not but remark,” etc., in cases in which it would be an error to use the phrase can but. Yet he
could not but
acknowledge to himself that there was something calculated to impress awe, . . . in the sudden appearances and vanishings . . . of the masque De Quincey.
Tom felt that this was a rebuff for him, and
could not but
understand it as a left-handed hit at his employer. Dickens.
Webster 1828 Edition
Can
CAN
,Noun.
CAN
,Verb.
I.
1.
To be able; to have sufficient strength or physical power. One man can lift a weight which another can not. A horse can run a certain distance in a given time.2.
To have means, or instruments, which supply power or ability. A man can build a house, or fit out a ship, if he has the requisite property. A nation cannot prosecute a war, without money or credit. I will lend you a thousand dollars, if I can.3.
To be possible.Nicodemus said, How can these thing be? John 3.
4.
To have adequate moral power. A man can indulge in pleasure, or he can refrain. He can restrain his appetites, if he will.5.
To have just or legal competent power, that is, right; to be free from any restraint of moral, civil or political obligation, or from any positive prohibition. We can use a highway for travel, for this is permitted by law. A man can or cannot hold an office. The Jews could not eat certain kinds of animals which were declared to be unclean. The House of Commons in England can impeach, but the House of Lords only can try impeachments. In general, we can do whatever neither the laws of God nor of man forbid.How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God. Gen. 34.
I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord, my God, to do less or more. Numb. 22.
6.
To have natural strength, or capacity; to be susceptible of; to be able or free to undergo any change, or produce any effect, by the laws and constitution of nature, or by divine appointment. Silver can be melted, but cannot be changed into gold.Can the rush grow without mire? Job 8.
Can the fig tree bear olive berries? James 3.
Can faith save him? James 2.
7.
To have competent strength, ability, fortitude, patience, &c., in a passive sense. He cannot bear reproof. I cannot endure this impertinence.This is a hard saying; who can hear it? John 6.
8.
To have the requisite knowledge, experience or skill. Young men are not admitted members of college, till they can translate Latin and Greek. An astronomer can calculate an eclipse, though he can not make a coat.9.
To have strength of inclination or motives sufficient to overcome obstacles, impediments, inconvenience or other objection.I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. Luke 9.
I cannot rise and give thee - yet because of him importunity, he will rise and give him. Luke 9.
10.
To have sufficient capacity; as, a vessel can not hold or contain the whole quantity.CAN
,Verb.
T.