DEFINITIONS

modal auxiliary

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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Words nearby modal auxiliary

mod cons, mod., mod. praesc., modacrylic fiber, modal, modal auxiliary, modal logic, modality, modding, mode, model

Origin of modal auxiliary

First recorded in 1930–35
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019