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Added 9 October 2026

cope

/ˈkəʊp/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about cope at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall.
A long cloak; worn by a priest or bishop on ceremonial occasions.

verb

Succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available.
We got by on just a gallon of gas

Origin

From Middle English coupen, from Old French coper, couper (“to strike, to cut”). The noun use went mainstream around 2020.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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