would
I. \_wəd, _(ə)d, (|)wu̇d\
Etymology: Middle English wolde, wulde, wold, from Old English wolde; akin to Old High German wolta wished, desired, Old Norse vilda, Gothic wilda — more at will
past of will
1.
 a. archaic : wished, desired, intended
  < he would that they should go >
 b. archaic : wish for : want
  < what would these people >
  < they would a word with us >
 c.
  (1) : strongly desire : wish
   < I would I had brought better news — W.S.Gilbert >
   < we would all were perfect — Edward Sapir >
  (2) — used in auxiliary function with rather or sooner to express preference between alternatives
   < his flock would rather let him starve than increase the living by one penny — Emily Brontë >
   < he would sooner die than face them >
2.
 a. — used in auxiliary function to express wish, desire, or intent
  < the problem of him who would determine the … pattern of a language — Internat'l Journal of American Linguistics >
  < would unite the nations of America into a real system — C.R.Fish >
 b. — used in auxiliary function to express willingness or preference
  < as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise — Lk 6:31 (Authorized Version) >
  < parents would have their children do well >
 c. — used in auxiliary function to express plan or intention
  < promised that we would correct … mistakes — Virginia Prewett >
  < deciding that they would visit as many friends as possible >
 d. — used in auxiliary function in the negative to express refusal
  < contrary to advice he would not have an auxiliary engine in his boat >
  < despite a good offer, he would have none of it >
 e. — used in auxiliary function to express disposition or inclination
  < would express the opinion that the … question has been practically settled — Norman Douglas >
  < would propose that all candidates be accepted >
  < would like to recommend a series of articles — R.C.Pooley >
 f. — used in auxiliary function to express insistence or determination
  < regardless of warnings he would play with fire >
  < the child would have its way >
  < he would not be crossed >
  < you might expect that he would not be deterred >
3. — used in auxiliary function to express custom or habitual action
 < we would meet every morning — O.S.J.Gogarty >
 < the swagman would for long periods be without … female company — William Power >
 < he would stand … blows without winking or shedding a tear — Emily Brontë >
4. — used in auxiliary function to express consent or choice
 < could be helped if he would only do his part >
 < would put it off indefinitely if he could >
5.
 a. — used in auxiliary function in the conclusion of a conditional sentence to express a contingency or possibility
  < if he were coming, he would be here now >
  < had all the possibilities been ruled out, we would have had to accept all three — Z.S.Harris >
  < would have done it myself but for my temporary incapacitation — Sir Winston Churchill >
 b.
  (1) — used in auxiliary function in the conclusion of a conditional sentence to express volition or intention
   < if I were a librarian, I would put this book in … my display — Pearl Buck >
   < if we had thought that the institute was a school, we would never have come — Time >
  (2) — used in auxiliary function in a statement of advice or recommendation based on the implied condition if I were you
   < I would go today while the weather is pleasant >
   < telling them he wouldn't take any such risk, he ordered them to go home >
 c. — used in auxiliary function in a noun clause completing a statement of desire, request, or advice
  < we wish that he would go >
  < the express desire of his parents was that he would finish school >
  < prefer that she would not go again >
6.
 a. — used in auxiliary function to express futurity from a point of view in the past
  < kept on looking for … the money that would solve his problems — E.L.Acken >
  < the lowness of his funds would presently compel his return — John Buchan >
  < proposed a council … whereby peace would be preserved — F.L.Schuman >
 b. — used in auxiliary function to express probability or presumption in past or present time
  < the hands of the watch show that it would be about five o'clock that it was submerged >
  < no one, for example, could have predicted … whether or not his pistol would have missed fire — L.A.White >
  < at this time of day the fire would have burned low — P.H.Newby >
  < from his appearance he would be the one we are looking for >
7. : could
 < no stone would shatter that glass >
 < the barrel would hold 20 gallons >
8. — used in auxiliary function to express a request with which voluntary compliance is expected
 < would you please help us >
9. obsolete : ought to
 < that would be scanned — Shakespeare >
10. — used in auxiliary function to express doubt or uncertainty
 < the explanation … would seem to go deeper — F.H.Hartmann >
 < for the survival of our society it would appear essential — Dorothy Barclay >
 < the mechanics of transmitting the sound were perfect, I would say — Philip Hamburger >
11. : should
 < knew I would enjoy the trip >
 < would be glad to know the answer >
 < feel that we would recognize them easily >
 < if you would be interested, I could arrange an interview >
 < it was ordered that he would go >
II. \ˈwu̇d\ noun
(-s)
: a conditional or undecided wish or intention
 < a life of inaction cluttered with woulds >
III. 
variant of weld