might could en · VERB
Etymology
In many Germanic languages and dialects modals can be stacked to combine their meanings; compare Scots micht cud.
Meanings
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(Southern-US, qualifier:double modal / stacked modal, used in some dialects) might be able to (used to soften "could" or make it even more conditional)
"Grammaw, Mr. Hammer said today you know things you won't talk about. That if he knew more about what's goin' on he might could go to the police, or to a lawyer, and maybe have Dunreith Smith arrested again."
1972-1991, Cyrus Colter, The Rivers of Eros →ISBN, page 133 http://books.google.com/books?id=MY6J8etc8jAC&lpg=PA133&dq=%22he%20might%20could%20go%22&pg=PR6#v=onepage&q=%22he%20might%20could%20go%22&f=false"He might could go there anyway and stay on academic probation for a year and then start running, but they won't accept him if he don't have a high school diploma."
2002-3, Michael Johnston, In the Deep Heart's Core →ISBN, page 172 http://books.google.com/books?id=_rqWu8NTKBsC&lpg=PA172&dq=%22he%20might%20could%20go%22&pg=PA172#v=onepage&q=%22he%20might%20could%20go%22&f=false
Relateds
modal stacking · double modal · might can · stacked modal · might should