English

Contraction

wouldn't

1. Contraction of would not.
   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 6, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     She was so mad she wouldn't speak to me for quite a spell, but at last I coaxed her into going up to Miss Emmeline's room and fetching down a tintype of the missing Deacon man.

See also

• Appendix:English modal verbs
• Appendix:English tag questions

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