Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CAN, v.i. [pret. could, which is from another root. See Could. Can is from the Sax. cennan, to know, to bear or produce; Goth. kunnan; Sax. cunnan, to know, to be able; cunnian, to try, to attempt, to prove; cind, cyn, gecynd, kind; L. genus; D. kunnen to know, to understand, to hold, to contain, to be able, like the Fr. savoir; Dan. kan, to be able; kiender, to know; Sw. känna, to know; kunna, to be able; G. kennen, to know; können, to be able. Hence cunning, that is, knowing, skillful, experienced; G. können, a being able, ability, knowledge; kund, public; kunde, knowledge, acquaintance. The Teutonic and Gothic words unite with the Greek γενναω, to beget, as a male, and to bear, as a female, which is connected with γινομαι, to be born or produced. Can, cennan, and γενναω, are probably the same word; and the Sax. ginnan, in the compounds aginnan, beginnan, onginnan, to begin, is from the same root. The primary sense is, to strain, to stretch, to urge or thrust with force, which gives the sense of producing, and of holding, containing, which is the primary sense of knowing, comprehending; and straining gives the sense of power. The Sax. cunnian, to try, is to strain. See Ken. Ar. كَانَ kauna, to be, the substantive verb; also, to become, to be made, to endure; also, to create, to generate, to form; قَنِنَ kanina, to know; Heb. and Ch. כון, to fit or prepare, to form or fashion; whence right, fit; as we have right; Sax. reht; L. rectus, from rego, to rule, that is, to strain, stretch, make straight; Syr. ܟܢ‎ kan, to begin to be, and its derivatives, to plant or establish, to create, to be prepared; Eth. ከወነ kun, to be, to become, to be made; Ch. and Sam. as the Hebrew. See Class Gn, No. 29. 38, and 58, 42, 45, &c. Can, in English is treated as an auxiliary verb, the sign of the infinitive being omitted, as in the phrases, I can go, instead of, I can to go; thou canst go; he can go.]

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 can not 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 things be? – John iii.
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 can not 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. xxxix. I can not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. – Num. xxii.
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 can not be changed into gold. Can the rush grow without mire? – Job viii. Can the fig-tree bear olive berries? – James iii. Can faith save him? – James ii.
7. To have competent strength, ability, fortitude, patience, &c., in a passive sense. He can not bear reproof. I can not endure this impertinence. This is a hard saying; who can hear it. – John vi.
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 can not come. – Luke xiv. I can not rise and give thee … yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him. – Luke xi.
10. To have sufficient capacity; as, a vessel can not hold or contain the whole quantity.