Cope \Cope\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Coped (k[=o]pt); p. pr. & vb.
n. Coping.]
[OE. copen, coupen, to buy, bargain, prob. from
D. koopen to buy, orig., to bargain. See Cheap.]
1. To exchange or barter. [Obs.]
--Spenser.
2. To encounter; to meet; to have to do with.
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man As e'er my
conversation coped withal. --Shak.
3. To enter into or maintain a hostile contest; to struggle;
to combat; especially, to strive or contend on equal terms
or with success; to match; to equal; -- usually followed
by with.
Host coped with host, dire was the din of war.
--Philips.
Their generals have not been able to cope with the
troops of Athens. --Addison.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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