Can
/kæn/noun
To be able to; to have the power or means to do something.
Did you know?The Old English root of 'can', 'cunnan', was closely tied to knowledge and skill, suggesting that to 'can' something was to possess the ability, almost like wielding a magic spell!
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰen-
“to know, to recognize, to be aware”
Old English
Old English
cunnan
“to know how to, to be able”
Middle English
Middle English
can
“to be able, to have the power or means”
Modern English
English
can
“to express ability or permission”