From Middle English scholde, from Old English sċolde, first and third person preterite form of sċulan (“should,” “have to,” “to owe”), the ancestor of English shall. By surface analysis, shall + -ed. Cognate with German sollte, Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐌻𐌳𐌰 (skulda), Swedish skulle. Related to Middle English shild and shildy.
The loss of /l/ in this word is probably due to weak stress, as in would and could (though in the latter, the /l/ was due to the analogy of the former two).
Meanings
(auxiliary, defective, modal) Something that ought to be the case as opposed to already being the case.
Being a list-o-maniac, I suggested we make a list of the "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts." So in the darkness of hazy sleep, I began to mentally prepare mine. The first item on the "should" side was easy: a sibling for our 3-year-old daughter. 2008, Working Mother, volume 31, number 8, page 20:
When the golf ball is there, the whole self-interference package — the hopes, worries, and fears; the thoughts on how-to and how-not-to; the woulds, the coulds, and the shoulds — is there too. 1996, Fred Shoemaker, Extraordinary Golf: The Art of the Possible, page 88:
However, we can address maladaptive shoulds by examining the differences between prior events, causes, proximate causes, and moral responsibility. 2003, Robert L. Leahy, Overcoming Resistance in Cognitive Therapy:
From Middle English scholde, from Old English sċolde, first and third person preterite form of sċulan (“should,” “have to,” “to owe”), the ancestor of English shall. By surface analysis, shall + -ed. Cognate with German sollte, Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐌻𐌳𐌰 (skulda), Swedish skulle. Related to Middle English shild and shildy.
The loss of /l/ in this word is probably due to weak stress, as in would and could (though in the latter, the /l/ was due to the analogy of the former two).
Meanings
(auxiliary, defective, modal) To suggest (that someone ought to do something, or that something ought to be the case) by, or as if by, using the word should.
I'd prefer that she stop shoulding me. I prefer that I stop shoulding me. I prefer that I stop shoulding her. 2008 November 1, Damon L. Jacobs, Absolutely Should-Less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve, Morgan James Publishing, →ISBN:
[…] for her to be kind to herself and less susceptible to others shoulding her. 2015 March 8, Diane Brandon, Dream Interpretation for Beginners: Understand the Wisdom of Your Sleeping Mind, Llewellyn Worldwide, →ISBN:
(auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past) Ought to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable. ▸ Used to issue an instruction (traditionally seen as carrying less force of authority than alternatives such as 'shall' or 'must').
You should never drink and drive.
The law is clear that you should always wear a seat belt.
The manual says that this switch should be in the 'off' position.
I was astonished at this polite offer, which my modesty induced me to ascribe more to my uniform than to my own merits, and, as I felt no inclination to refuse the compliment, I said that I should be most happy. 1833, [Frederick Marryat], chapter IV, in Peter Simple. […], volume I, London: Saunders and Otley, […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 42:
I told him that I should be busy tomorrow.
(auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past) Ought to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable. ▸ Used to give advice or opinion that an action is, or would have been, beneficial or desirable.
You should go and see that film. I think you'll enjoy it.
Should we go and see the police, do you think?
She should not have been so rude.
(auxiliary, defective, informal, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past) Ought to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable. ▸ With verbs such as 'see' or 'hear', usually in the second person, used to point out something remarkable in either a good or bad way.
If you think her piano playing is bad, you should hear her sing!
You should see his new apartment. It's like a palace!
(auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past) Ought to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable. ▸ In questions, asks what is correct, proper, desirable, etc.
Next month, Clemons will be brought before a court presided over by a "special master", who will review the case one last time. The hearing will be unprecedented in its remit, but at its core will be a simple issue: should Reggie Clemons live or die? 2012 August 21, Ed Pilkington, “Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die?”, in The Guardian:
What do you think? What should I do?
(auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past) Ought to; expressing expectation. ▸ Indicates that something is expected to have happened or to be the case now.
They should have finished by now; I'll call them to check.
My fruit trees should be in flower, but the cold spring has set them back.
(auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past) Ought to; expressing expectation. ▸ Will be likely to (become or do something); indicates a degree of possibility or probability that the stated thing will happen or be true in the future.
You should be warm enough with that coat.
We’re spending the winter in Ibiza. ~ That should be nice.
When you press this button, the pilot flame should ignite.
They should have it finished by Friday.
(auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past, subjunctive) Used to form a variant of the present subjunctive, expressing a state or action that is hypothetical, potential, mandated, etc.
If I should be late, I should hope that you are prepared to go on without me.
'One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night, / But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light; / Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day, / Then look for me by moonlight, / Watch for me by moonlight, / I'll come to thee by moonlight, though Hell should bar the way.' 1906 August, Alfred Noyes, “The Highwayman”, in Poems, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., published October 1906, →OCLC, part 1, stanza V, page 47:
Should you need extra blankets, you will find them in the closet.
It was a long weary time, for the Boy was too ill to play, and the little Rabbit found it rather dull with nothing to do all day long. But he snuggled down patiently, and looked forward to the time when the Boy should be well again, and they would go out in the garden amongst the flowers and the butterflies and play splendid games in the raspberry thicket like they used to. 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
It's his proposal that there (should) not be several dozen units.
And I'd be a fool right now
If I should hurt you girl
And I'd be a fool right now
If I should leave you girl 1968 December 8, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder, “I’d Be a Fool Right Now”, in For Once in My Life, performed by Stevie Wonder, Tamla Records:
He is noted for coming up with his 'wager', in which he argued that he was prepared to believe in God on the grounds that he had nothing to lose if he was wrong, and everything to gain should he be right. 2008, Peter Michael Higgins, Number Story: From Counting to Cryptography, page 141 (Google Books view)
I regret that it should have happened, but I was really shocked that he should say that.
(auxiliary, defective, formal, literary, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past) An alternative to would with first person subjects. ▸ Used to express a conditional outcome.
"Good God! I don't want another accident here. I should go dotty if I had to face all that again." 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 152:
"If our friends, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, were only with us," said the Lion, "I should be quite happy." 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC:
If I had not been so tired, I should have laughed heartily.
"Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert," replied Glinda. "If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country." "But then I should not have had my wonderful brains!" cried the Scarecrow. "I might have passed my whole life in the farmer's cornfield." 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC:
(auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past, qualifier:formal or literary outside certain combinations such as with 'imagine' or 'think') An alternative to would with first person subjects. ▸ Used to impart a tentative, conjectural or polite nuance.
I should be very grateful to receive your prompt reply. (formal or old-fashioned)
I should think you would apologize.
It didn’t turn out as we intended it should.
We should very much like to meet her. (formal or old-fashioned)
I should like to dine with him. I dare say he gives famous dinners. 1817, Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey:
I should imagine that they have arrived by now.
(auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past) An alternative to would with first person subjects. ▸ Used to express what the speaker would do in another person's situation, as a means of giving a suggestion or recommendation.
It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I should write and complain.
As this happens to be Saturday it gives you a day's grace. I should go round and see the chiefs to-morrow. Tell them all about it and what I have said. 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
ar مِنْ اَلْمُفْتَرَض أَنْ (expressing obligation) · sv skulle (if; in case of) · sv skola (expressing obligation) · hi चाहिए (expressing obligation) · th ควร (expressing obligation) · lt turėti (expressing obligation) · de müsste (expressing obligation) · uk слід (expressing likelihood) · hu esetleg (as a variant of the present subjunctive) · be паві́нны (expressing obligation) · ru должно́ быть (expressing likelihood) · cmn 應當 /应当 (expressing obligation) · ru бу́дет (expressing likelihood) · es deber (expressing obligation) · da burde (expressing obligation) · es haber de (expressing obligation) · ru обя́зан (expressing obligation) · az -məli (expressing obligation) · dsb dejaś (expressing obligation) · kw y talvia dhe (expressing opinion) · ca tenir de (expressing obligation) · grc ὀφείλω (expressing obligation) · ms patut (expressing obligation) · mk ́ако (if; in case of) · it dovere (expressing likelihood) · pt dever (expressing obligation) · pl powinno (expressing obligation) · hu kellene (expressing opinion) · ko 해야 한다 (expressing obligation) · fa باید (expressing obligation) · ru сле́дует (expressing obligation) · de sollen (expressing obligation) · nl moeten (expressing obligation) · bn উচিত (expressing opinion) · sv borde (expressing opinion) · hu kéne (expressing opinion) · la nōn licet (expressing obligation) · cmn 如果 (if; in case of) · bn কথা (expressing likelihood) · nan-hbl 著 (expressing obligation) · ur چاہئے (expressing obligation) · nl mochten (if; in case of) · ja ...べきである (expressing obligation) · cy dylu (expressing likelihood) · pl powinno (expressing likelihood) · mk тре́ба (expressing likelihood) · fr si (if; in case of) · yue 應該 /应该 (expressing obligation) · fr Conditional form of devoir (expressing obligation) · pl powinna (expressing obligation) · ar مِنْ اَلْمَفْرُوض أَنْ (expressing obligation) · is eiga að (expressing obligation) · es deber de (expressing obligation) · ru е́жели (if; in case of) · az gərək (expressing obligation) · es Conditional form of deber (expressing opinion) · la nefās est (expressing obligation) · ru до́лжен (expressing obligation) · bn উচিত (expressing likelihood) · cs měl by (expressing obligation) · ur چاہیئں (expressing obligation) · be паві́нна (expressing obligation) · ca haver de (expressing obligation) · kw y tal dhe (expressing opinion) · be паві́нен (expressing obligation) · hu -j (expressing obligation) · ro ar trebui (expressing likelihood) · es si (if; in case of) · nl zou moeten (expressing obligation) · pt caso (if; in case of) · kw y tegoodh dhe (expressing obligation) · vi nên (expressing obligation) · fi pitäisi (expressing obligation) · la debeo (expressing likelihood) · ru е́сли (if; in case of) · uk повинен (expressing obligation) · hu ha …… -na/-ne (if; in case of) · nan-hbl 應該 /应该 (expressing obligation) · ur چاہئیں (expressing obligation) · sv böra (expressing likelihood) · de dürfen (expressing likelihood) · cmn 應該 /应该 (expressing obligation) · mk тре́ба (expressing obligation) · no skulle (if; in case of) · da skulle (expressing obligation) · cy os (if; in case of) · nb skulle (expressing opinion) · mk до́колку (if; in case of) · da skulle (if; in case of) · no burde (expressing obligation) · hu netán (as a variant of the present subjunctive) · es deber de (expressing likelihood) · sv skulle (as a variant of the present subjunctive) · ro ar trebui (expressing obligation) · la oportet (expressing obligation) · da skulle (expressing likelihood) · nb burde (expressing opinion) · hu alighanem (expressing likelihood) · fr Conditional form of devoir (expressing opinion) · bn যদি (if; in case of) · bn কথা (expressing obligation) · uk повинно (expressing likelihood) · ur چاہیئے (expressing obligation) · sv bör (expressing opinion) · ur چاہئیے (expressing obligation) · he כְּדַאי לְ־ (expressing opinion) · sv om (if; in case of) · ang sċulan (expressing obligation) · cmn 該 /该 (expressing obligation) · he צָרִיךְ (expressing obligation) · az -malı (expressing obligation) · ca deure (expressing obligation) · yi זאָלן (expressing obligation) · sco shud (expressing obligation) · mk би тре́бало (expressing likelihood) · ur چاہیے (expressing obligation) · eo devi (expressing obligation) · hu véletlenül (as a variant of the present subjunctive) · km គួរ (expressing obligation) · es tener que (expressing obligation) · pl powinien (expressing obligation) · de sollte (expressing obligation) · tr -meli, -malı (expressing obligation) · uk ва́рто (expressing obligation) · fi pitäisi (expressing likelihood) · pt se (if; in case of) · ar يَنْبَغِي أَنْ (expressing obligation) · kw y kodh dhe (expressing obligation) · cmn 倘若 (if; in case of) · hu feltehetőleg (expressing likelihood) · pt dever (expressing likelihood) · no burde (expressing likelihood) · sv torde (expressing likelihood) · es deber (expressing likelihood) · es ser probable que (expressing likelihood) · hu bizonyára (expressing likelihood) · cy dylu (expressing obligation) · la dēbeō (expressing opinion)