From Middle English coupen, from Old French coper, couper (“to strike, to cut”). The noun use went mainstream around 2020.
Meanings
(derogatory) An expression of spite towards someone who suffered a setback.
"The other guy cheated, I had no chance!" "Cope."
(Internet, derogatory) A contemptuous dismissal, implying that someone should deal with some problem on their own and that the speaker will not engage any further.
From Middle English coupen, from Old French coper, couper (“to strike, to cut”). The noun use went mainstream around 2020.
Meanings
(slang) A coping mechanism or self-delusion one clings to in order to endure a hopeless situation.
Just as it sounds, a Gymcel is an incel who goes to the gym a lot, which in their mind is a cope. 2020, Brian Whitney, The "Supreme Gentleman" Killer: The True Story of an Incel Mass Murderer, unnumbered page:
My only 2 copes for the past 3 years have been food & the internet/surfing. Both of these copes have only hurt me further as I have addictions to both sugar and the internet now and have isolated myself further and further into the oblivion. 2020, anonymous, quoted in Jacob Conley, "Efficacy, Nihilism, and Toxic Masculinity Online: Digital Misogyny in the Incel Subculture", thesis submitted to The Ohio State University, page 18
When those of us with W-2 income say the ultrawealthy are all miserable anyway, that’s cope. When some late-1950s Americans nitpicked the reporting on Sputnik because they couldn’t believe the Soviet Union launched a satellite first — that, according to the writer Jeet Heer, was “a pathetic display of cope.” 2025 October 20, Nitsuh Abebe, “Are You Resigned to a World of Bad News? Or Do You Need Some ‘Cope’?”, in The New York Times Magazine, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
There was some public grousing about the number of white supremacists attempting to recruit, however; some incels argued that white supremacy was just another "cope"–just another self-deluding attempt to cover over the grim truth of the blackpill. 2019, Talia Lavin, Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy, unnumbered page:
From Middle English coupen, from Old French coper, couper (“to strike, to cut”). The noun use went mainstream around 2020.
Meanings
(intransitive) To deal effectively with something, especially if difficult.
From transport to zoos: how UK services coped in the sweltering heat [title] 2022 July 18, Jamie Grierson, “From transport to zoos: how UK services coped in the sweltering heat”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Phyllida Barlow, the sculptor representing the UK at the Venice Biennale, has said that while it may have taken the art world decades to pay attention to her work, the timing of her recognition was perfect, adding: “20 years ago, I wouldn’t have coped.” 2017 May 10, Hannah Ellis-Petersen, quoting Phyllida Barlow, “Phyllida Barlow: I couldn't have coped if fame had come 20 years ago”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Chelsea were coping comfortably as Liverpool left Luis Suarez too isolated. Steven Gerrard was also being forced to drop too deep to offer support to the beleaguered Jay Spearing and Jordan Henderson rather than add attacking potency alongside the Uruguayan. 2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
To cut and form a mitred joint in wood or metal.
To clip the beak or talons of a bird.
the beak and talons should be closely coped 1856, John Henry Walsh, Manual of British Rural Sports:
ro înfrunta (to deal effectively with something) · uk впо́ратися (to deal effectively with something) · sq përball (to deal effectively with something) · cmn 對付 /对付 (to deal effectively with something) · sh izaći na kraj (s nečim) (to deal effectively with something) · pt aguentar (to deal effectively with something) · vi đương đầu (to deal effectively with something) · nb kope (to form a joint) · de (mit etwas) zurechtkommen (to deal effectively with something) · it far fronte (to deal effectively with something) · tr başarmak (to deal effectively with something) · sh nositi se (to deal effectively with something) · de bewältigen (to deal effectively with something) · fr se débrouiller (to deal effectively with something) · eo elteni (to deal effectively with something) · fi kestää (to deal effectively with something) · ja 対処する (to deal effectively with something) · cmn 應付 /应付 (to deal effectively with something) · el αντεπεξέρχομαι (to deal effectively with something) · cmn 處理 /处理 (to deal effectively with something) · de klarkommen (to deal effectively with something) · es lidiar (to deal effectively with something) · cy ymdopi (to deal effectively with something) · sh носити се (to deal effectively with something) · cmn 應對 /应对 (to deal effectively with something) · fr faire face (à) (to deal effectively with something) · sv palla (to deal effectively with something) · ru спра́виться с (to deal effectively with something) · he התמודד (to deal effectively with something) · ja 処理する (to deal effectively with something) · it affrontare (to deal effectively with something) · ro împăca (to deal effectively with something) · eo daŭri (to deal effectively with something) · ru справля́ться (to deal effectively with something) · pl radzić sobie (to deal effectively with something) · de (mit etwas) fertig werden (to deal effectively with something) · fi selvitä (to deal effectively with something) · de schaffen (to deal effectively with something) · nl mee omgaan (to deal effectively with something) · fi selviytyä (to deal effectively with something) · vi đối đầu (to deal effectively with something) · sh изаћи на крај (to deal effectively with something) · pt lidar (to deal effectively with something) · ro confrunta (to deal effectively with something) · hu megbirkózik (to deal effectively with something) · ar سَايَرَ (to deal effectively with something) · ar تَأَقْلَمَ (to deal effectively with something) · bg спра́вям се (to deal effectively with something)
From Middle English cope, from Medieval Latin cāpa (“cape”) Doublet of cap, cape, and chape.
Meanings
(derogatory) A long, loose cloak worn by a priest, deacon, or bishop when presiding over a ceremony other than the Mass.
[…] there went firſt 160 Prieſts, all in their Copes, eight Biſhops next, […] 1681, Gilbert Burnet, “Book II. The Life and Reign of Queen Mary.”, in The History of the Reformation of the Church of England. The Second Part, […], London: […] T[homas] H[odgkin] for Richard Chiswell, […], →OCLC, page 300:
He possessed a gorgeous cope of crimson silk and gold-thread damask, figured with a repeating pattern of golden pomegranates set in six-petalled formal blossoms, beyond which on either side was the pine-apple device wrought in seed-pearls. 1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter XI, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC:
(derogatory) Any covering such as a canopy or a mantle.
(derogatory, literary) The vault or canopy of the skies, heavens etc.
One summer night, in commune with the hope
Thus deeply fed, amid those ruins gray
I watched, beneath the dark sky’s starry cope; […] 1817 December, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “The Revolt of Islam. […]”, in [Mary] Shelley, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. […], volume I, London: Edward Moxon […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 191:
It was, indeed, a majestic idea that the destiny of nations should be revealed, in these awful hieroglyphics, on the cope of heaven. 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC:
Who perceiveth and seeth himselfe placed here,[…]farthest from heavens coape, with those creatures, that are the worst of the three conditions; and yet dareth imaginarily place himselfe above the circle of the Moone, and reduce heaven under his feet. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
the starry cope of heaven 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
(derogatory) A covering piece on top of a wall exposed to the weather, usually made of metal, masonry, or stone, and sloped to carry off water.
(derogatory) The top part of a sand casting mold.
(derogatory) An ancient tribute due to the lord of the soil, out of the lead mines in Derbyshire, England.
From Middle English cope, from Medieval Latin cāpa (“cape”) Doublet of cap, cape, and chape.
Meanings
(derogatory, transitive) To cover (a joint or structure) with coping.
(derogatory, intransitive) To form a cope or arch; to arch or bend; to bow.
[W]e ſee that wreſtlers onely doe claſpe about, and imbrace one another with their armes; and the moſt part of their ſtriving one againſt another, whether it be performed by taking hold either directly or indirectly, by tripping, by coping and tugging, doe all bring them together, and enterlace them; […] 1603, Plutarch, “The Second Booke of the Symposiaques. The Fourth Question. Whether Wrestling were of All the Exercises and Games of Prise, Most Ancient or No?”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, page 673:
From Middle English copen, borrowed from Middle Dutch copen. Cognate with Dutch kopen, German kaufen.
Meanings
(derogatory, obsolete) To bargain for; to buy.
(derogatory, obsolete) To exchange or barter.
[The Patron] Will cope with thee in reasonable wise;
That if the living yerely doo arise
To fortie pound, that then his yongest sonne
Shall twentie have, and twentie thou hast wonne. 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC:
(derogatory, obsolete) To make return for; to requite; to repay.
Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew, / We freely cope your courteous pains withal. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
(derogatory, obsolete) To match oneself against; to meet; to encounter.
Host coped with host, dire was the din of war. 1708, John Philips, Cyder:
They say he yesterday coped Hector in the battle, and struck him down. c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
Says, ‘Mistress, do you travel to be coped? / Give me my fee: for sure, a plump-cheeked lass / Shall not the porter's lodge unkissèd pass.’ a. 1682, Nathaniel Whiting, “The Pleasing History of Albino and Bellama”, in George Saintsbury, editor, Minor Poets of the Caroline Period, volume III, published 1921:
I love to cope him in these sullen fits. c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
(derogatory, obsolete) To encounter; to meet; to have to do with.
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man / As e'er my conversation coped withal. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
(derogatory, dialectal, obsolete) To tie or sew up the mouth of a ferret used for hunting rabbits.
His nimble ferrets must now become pioners for their master who coupes them, lest they should grow too fat to endure labour. 1631, Richard Brathwaite, Whimzies:
The use of this word is confined to warreners, who are said to 'cope' their ferrets, when they sew or tie up their mouths, to prevent them from biting rabbits, when they are used to drive them from their holes. 1825, Robert Forby, The Vocabulary of East-Anglia:
(derogatory, figuratively, obsolete) To silence or prevent from speaking.
Well sir? how triflingly soeuer you trauers the matter, these my Philosophicall proceedings (for any thing hitherto heard) might fullie suffice to put your fantasticall fooleries to a perpetuall non-sute: were you not like to the rauenous Ferret, which rendeth in peeces whatsoeuer poore Rabbet doth come in her reach. And therefore it shall not be amisse to cope vp your lips a little, by taking foorthwith so strict a course as you shall neuer be able to contradict with all your skill: which may in this sort be verie fitly effected. 1601, John Deacon, John Walker, Dialogicall Discourses of Spirits and Divels:
That is; because Roger has a vocal instrument between his chin and his nose, called a mouth, and being not muzled, gagged or cop'd; but having a free power, faculty or Page 127 May to open it, and order it as he think fit; therefore he May stretch it out as wide as he please, and swear quite cross the Island, that he'l have the whole, or at least half: 1672, John Eachard, Mr. Hobbs's state of nature considered in a dialogue between Philautus and Timothy:
And tell me Signior, why when you eate our good cheare i'th City, haue you handſome wide chops, but meeting vs at Court, none; your gumme's glew'd vp, your lips coap'd like a Ferret, not ſo much as the corner of a Cuſtard; if a cold cup, and a dry cheate loaf 'tis well. 1621, Thomas Dekker, Match Me in London: