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modal auxiliary

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noun
Grammar. any of the group of English auxiliary verbs, including can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, and must, that are used with the base form of another verb to express distinctions of mood.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of modal auxiliary

First recorded in 1930–35

Words nearby modal auxiliary

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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