Main Entry:

¹cou·ple

Pronunciation:

\ˈkə-pəl; “couple of” is often ˌkə-plə(v)\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, pair, bond, from Anglo-French cuple, from Latin copula bond, from co- + apere to fasten — more at apt

Date:

13th century

1 a: two persons married, engaged, or otherwise romantically paired b: two persons paired together2: pair, brace3: something that joins or links two things together: as a: two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines b: a pair of substances that in contact with an electrolyte participate in a transfer of electrons which causes an electric current to flow 4: an indefinite small number : few <a couple of days ago>

— cou·ple·dom \-dəm\ noun