Should
/ʃʊd/noun
An auxiliary verb used to express obligation, expectation, or conditionality.
Did you know?“Should” comes from the same ancient root as “shall,” and in Old English it was originally tied to obligation and what someone was bound to do, not just polite suggestion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skel-
“to owe, be under obligation”
Old English
English
sceal
“I owe, am obliged, must”
Middle English
English
sholde
“past tense form used for obligation and duty”
Modern English
English
should
“auxiliary verb expressing obligation, expectation, or conditionality”