cope

Etymology 1

From Middle English coupen, from Old French couper (“to strike, to cut”).

verb

1. (intransitive) To deal effectively with something, especially if difficult.
   Chelsea were coping comfortably as Liverpool left Luis Suarez too isolated. Steven Gerrard was also being forced to drop too deep to offer support to the beleaguered Jay Spearing and Jordan Henderson rather than add attacking potency alongside the Uruguayan. May 5, 2012, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport
   Phyllida Barlow, the sculptor representing the UK at the Venice Biennale, has said that while it may have taken the art world decades to pay attention to her work, the timing of her recognition was perfect, adding: “20 years ago, I wouldn’t have coped.” 2017-05-10, Hannah Ellis-Petersen, quoting Phyllida Barlow, “Phyllida Barlow: I couldn't have coped if fame had come 20 years ago”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
   From transport to zoos: how UK services coped in the sweltering heat [title] 2022-07-18, Jamie Grierson, “From transport to zoos: how UK services coped in the sweltering heat”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
2. To cut and form a mitred joint in wood or metal.
3. (falconry) To clip the beak or talons of a bird.
   the beak and talons should be closely coped 1856, John Henry Walsh, Manual of British Rural Sports

noun

1. (slang) A coping mechanism or self-delusion one clings to in order to endure the hopelessness or despair of existence.
   There was some public grousing about the number of white supremacists attempting to recruit, however; some incels argued that white supremacy was just another "cope"–just another self-deluding attempt to cover over the grim truth of the blackpill. 2019, Talia Lavin, Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy, unnumbered page
   My only 2 copes for the past 3 years have been food & the internet/surfing. Both of these copes have only hurt me further as I have addictions to both sugar and the internet now and have isolated myself further and further into the oblivion. 2020, anonymous, quoted in Jacob Conley, "Efficacy, Nihilism, and Toxic Masculinity Online: Digital Misogyny in the Incel Subculture", thesis submitted to The Ohio State University, page 18
   Just as it sounds, a Gymcel is an incel who goes to the gym a lot, which in their mind is a cope. 2020, Brian Whitney, The "Supreme Gentleman" Killer: The True Story of an Incel Mass Murderer, unnumbered page

Etymology 2

From Middle English cope, from Medieval Latin cāpa (“cape”) Doublet of cap, cape, and chape.

noun

1. (liturgy) A long, loose cloak worn by a priest, deacon, or bishop when presiding over a ceremony other than the Mass.
2. Any covering such as a canopy or a mantle.
3. (literary) The vault or canopy of the skies, heavens etc.
4. (construction) A covering piece on top of a wall exposed to the weather, usually made of metal, masonry, or stone, and sloped to carry off water.
5. (foundry) The top part of a sand casting mold.
6. An ancient tribute due to the lord of the soil, out of the lead mines in Derbyshire, England.

verb

1. (transitive) To cover (a joint or structure) with coping.
2. (intransitive) To form a cope or arch">arch; to arch">arch or bend; to bow.

Etymology 3

From Middle English copen, borrowed from Middle Dutch copen. Cognate with Dutch kopen, German kaufen.

verb

1. (obsolete) To bargain for; to buy.
2. (obsolete) To exchange or barter.
3. (obsolete) To make return for; to requite; to repay.
4. (obsolete) To match oneself against; to meet; to encounter.
   Says, ‘Mistress, do you travel to be coped? / Give me my fee: for sure, a plump-cheeked lass / Shall not the porter's lodge unkissèd pass.’ a. 1682, Nathaniel Whiting, “The Pleasing History of Albino and Bellama”, in George Saintsbury, editor, Minor Poets of the Caroline Period, volume III, published 1921
   Host coped with host, dire was the din of war. 1708, John Philips, Cyder
5. (obsolete) To encounter; to meet; to have to do with.

Etymology 4

Unknown

verb

1. (obsolete, dialect) To tie or sew up the mouth of a ferret used for hunting rabbits.
   His nimble ferrets must now become pioners for their master who coupes them, lest they should grow too fat to endure labour. 1631, Richard Brathwaite, Whimzies
   The use of this word is confined to warreners, who are said to 'cope' their ferrets, when they sew or tie up their mouths, to prevent them from biting rabbits, when they are used to drive them from their holes. 1825, Robert Forby, The Vocabulary of East-Anglia
2. (obsolete, figurative) To silence or prevent from speaking.
   Well sir? how triflingly soeuer you trauers the matter, these my Philosophicall proceedings (for any thing hitherto heard) might fullie suffice to put your fantasticall fooleries to a perpetuall non-sute: were you not like to the rauenous Ferret, which rendeth in peeces whatsoeuer poore Rabbet doth come in her reach. And therefore it shall not be amisse to cope vp your lips a little, by taking foorthwith so strict a course as you shall neuer be able to contradict with all your skill: which may in this sort be verie fitly effected. 1601, John Deacon, John Walker, Dialogicall Discourses of Spirits and Divels
   And tell me Signior, why when you eate our good cheare i'th City, haue you handſome wide chops, but meeting vs at Court, none; your gumme's glew'd vp, your lips coap'd like a Ferret, not ſo much as the corner of a Cuſtard; if a cold cup, and a dry cheate loaf 'tis well. 1621, Thomas Dekker, Match Me in London
   That is; because Roger has a vocal instrument between his chin and his nose, called a mouth, and being not muzled, gagged or cop'd; but having a free power, faculty or Page 127 May to open it, and order it as he think fit; therefore he May stretch it out as wide as he please, and swear quite cross the Island, that he'l have the whole, or at least half: 1672, John Eachard, Mr. Hobbs's state of nature considered in a dialogue between Philautus and Timothy