n. [ F. couple, fr. L. copula a bond, band; co- + apere, aptum, to join. See Art, a., and cf. Copula. ]
It is in some sort with friends as it is with dogs in couples; they should be of the same size and humor. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]
I'll go in couples with her. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Adding one to one we have the complex idea of a couple. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ Ziba ] met him with a couple of asses saddled. 2 Sam. xvi. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]
Such were our couple, man and wife. Lloyd. [ 1913 Webster ]
Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a rotation. A couple of rotations is equivalent to a motion of translation. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds, . . .
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
A parson who couples all our beggars. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. To come together as male and female; to copulate. [ Obs. ] Milton. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One who makes it his business to marry beggars to each other. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.;
adj.
n. [ Cf. OF. couplement. ] Union; combination; a coupling; a pair. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
And forth together rode, a goodly couplement. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One who couples; that which couples, as a link, ring, or shackle, to connect cars. [ 1913 Webster ]
Coupler of an organ,
n. [ F. couplet, dim. of couple. See Couple, n. ] Two taken together; a pair or couple; especially two lines of verse that rhyme with each other. [ 1913 Webster ]
A sudden couplet rushes on your mind. Crabbe. [ 1913 Webster ]