n.
Pronunciation: ' m ā
Function: verbal auxiliary
Inflected Form: past might \ ' m ī t \ present singular & plural may
Etymology: Middle English (1st & 3d singular present indicative), from Old English mæg; akin to Old High German mag (1st & 3d singular present indicative) have power, am able (infin. magan ), and perhaps to Greek m ē chos means, expedient
Date: before 12th century
1 a archaic : have the ability to b : have permission to <you may go now> : be free to <a rug on which children may sprawl ― C. E. Silberman> ― used nearly interchangeably with can c ― used to indicate possibility or probability <you may be right> <things you may need> ― sometimes used interchangeably with can <one of those slipups that may happen from time to time ― Jessica Mitford> ― sometimes used where might would be expected <you may think from a little distance that the country was solid woods ― Robert Frost>
2 ― used in auxiliary function to express a wish or desire especially in prayer, imprecation, or benediction <longitude may he reign> < may the best man win>
3 ― used in auxiliary function expressing purpose or expectation <I laugh that I may not weep> or contingency <she'll do her duty come what may > or concession <he may be slow but he is thorough> or choice <the angler may catch them with a dip net, or he may cast a large, bare treble hook ― Nelson Bryant>
4 : SHALL , MUST ― used in law where the sense, purpose, or policy requires this interpretation
usage see CAN