would

1. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.Examples: "And thenne at laste a-nother sayd that he wolde have eyren. Then the good wyf sayd that she understod hym wel."; "The Greeks, especially those who would be thought adepts in mystic theology, ran after fantastic allegories […]."archaicauxiliary

2. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.Examples: "At which time he told me, he would to London that week, and so to Oxford."; "He sat as one astonish'd, a good-while, looking at me, without speaking a Word, till I came quite up to him, kneel'd on one Knee to him, and almost whether he would or no, kiss'd his Hand[…]."; "'I thank thee, oh Ayesha,' I replied, with as much dignity as I could command, 'but if there be such a place as thou dost describe, and if in this strange place there may be found a fiery virtue that can hold off Death when he comes to pluck us by the hand, yet would I none of it.'"archaicauxiliary

3. Past tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.auxiliaryobsolete

4. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.Examples: "PARIS My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow."; "KING HENRY Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz? WESTMORELAND God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone, Without more help, could fight this royal battle!"; "I presently wished, would that I had been in their clothes! would that I had been born Peter! would that I had been born John!"archaicauxiliary

5. A modal verb, the subjunctive of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.Examples: "What dost thou professe? What would’st thou with vs?"archaicauxiliary