D defs.my
Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913

modal auxiliary

/mōd'-əl äg-zĭl'-yẽr-ē/ · mo·dal aux·il·iar·y · IPA
01 n. Any one of the auxiliary verbs of English, such as can, may, will, shall, must, might, could, would, or should, which are used together wit…
  1. 1.
    Any one of the auxiliary verbs of English, such as can, may, will, shall, must, might, could, would, or should, which are used together with the infinitive form of another verb to express distinctions of mood{2}, such as uncertainty, possibility, command, emphasis, and obligation.(Gram.)