Archaic second person singular form of 'can'; means 'you can' or 'are you able.'
Middle English contraction of 'can' + 'thou,' from Old English 'canst.' Part of the Early Modern English verb conjugation system that distinguished between familiar (thou/canst) and formal (you/can) address.
Canst represents a time when English had formal grammar for showing respect and intimacy - 'thou canst' was for friends and family, while 'you can' was for strangers and superiors. Shakespeare's characters reveal their relationships through these seemingly simple word choices.
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