Cope, v. i. [imp. & p. p.Coped (kōpt); 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. 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.