cope

¹

[kohp]

verb (used without object)

coped, coping 

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

   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 bywith ).

verb (used with object)

coped, coping 

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.

verb (used with object)

coped, coping 

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

cope

³

[kohp]

verb (used with object)

coped, coping 

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 ortogether ).

   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, coping 

1. to barter; trade; exchange.

cope

¹

/ kəʊp /

verb

1. 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

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 /

verb

1. to provide (a wall) with a coping

2. to join (two moulded timber members)

noun

1. another name for coping

COPE

⁴

/ kəʊp /

acronym

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

Other Word Forms

• copeless adjective
• copelessness 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

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

Origin of cope²

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

Origin of cope³

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

Example Sentences

Mr Barley said his relationship broke down under the strain of trying to cope with his escalating council tax debt, which he estimates reached a total of about £6,000.

Read more on BBC

The child said they "simply could not cope with it".

Read more on BBC

The justice was not happy when Stevenson said a therapist is permitted to help a client “cope with their feelings,” but that telling the kid he could un-gay his thoughts was banned.

Read more on Salon

“His own coping mechanism was radical niceness to everybody — making human connections so that he would have community and feel like he’s making things better.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She said she believed the theft may have been a part of a coping mechanism and likened herself to a foster child who may hoard items or food as a means of soothing themselves.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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