Hypertext Webster Gateway: "couple"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Couple \Cou"ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Coupled} (k?p"'ld); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Coupling} (-l?ng).] [F. coupler, fr. L.
copulare. See {Couple}, n., and cf. {Copulate}, {Cobble}, v.]
1. To link or tie, as one thing to another; to connect or
fasten together; to join.

Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds, . .
. And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach.
--Shak.

2. To join in wedlock; to marry. [Colloq.]

A parson who couples all our beggars. --Swift.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Couple \Cou"ple\ (k?p"'l), n. [F. couple, fr. L. copula a bond,
band; co- + apere, aptum, to join. See {Art}, a., and cf.
{Copula}.]
1. That which joins or links two things together; a bond or
tie; a coupler. [Obs.]

It is in some sort with friends as it is with dogs
in couples; they should be of the same size and
humor. --L'Estrange.

I'll go in couples with her. --Shak.

2. Two of the same kind connected or considered together; a
pair; a brace. ``A couple of shepherds.'' --Sir P. Sidney.
``A couple of drops'' --Addison. ``A couple of miles.''
--Dickens. ``A couple of weeks.'' --Carlyle.

Adding one to one we have the complex idea of a
couple. --Locke.

[Ziba] met him with a couple of asses saddled. --2
Sam. xvi. 1.

3. A male and female associated together; esp., a man and
woman who are married or betrothed.

Such were our couple, man and wife. --Lloyd.

Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league.
--Milton.

4. (Arch.) See {Couple-close}.

5. (Elec.) One of the pairs of plates of two metals which
compose a voltaic battery; -- called a voltaic couple or
galvanic couple.

6. (Mech.) Two rotations, movements, etc., which are equal in
amount but opposite in direction, and acting along
parallel lines or around parallel axes.

Note: The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a
rotation. A couple of rotations is equivalent to a
motion of translation.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Couple \Cou"ple\, v. i.
To come together as male and female; to copulate. [Obs.]
--Milton. Bacon.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

couple
n 1: a small indefinite number; "he's coming for a couple of
days"
2: a pair of people who live together; "a married couple from
Chicago" [syn: {mates}, {match}]
3: a pair who associate with one another; "the engaged couple";
"an inseparable twosome" [syn: {twosome}, {duo}, {duet}]
4: two items of the same kind [syn: {doubleton}, {pair}, {twosome},
{twain}, {brace}, {span}, {yoke}, {couplet}, {distich}, {duo},
{duet}, {dyad}, {duad}]
5: something joined by two equal and opposite forces that act
along parallel lines
v 1: bring two objects, ideas, or people together; "This fact is
coupled to the other one"; "Matchmaker, can you match my
daughter with a nice young man?"; "The student was
paired with a partner for collaboration on the project"
[syn: {match}, {mate}, {pair}, {twin}]
2: link together [syn: {couple on}, {couple up}] [ant: {uncouple}]
3: form a pair or pairs; "The two old friends paired off" [syn:
{pair}, {pair off}, {partner off}]
4: make love; "Birds mate in the Spring" [syn: {copulate}, {mate},
{pair}]


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