[may] verbal auxiliary, past might pres sing & pl may [ME (1st & 3d sing. pres. indic.), fr. OE maeg; akin to OHG mag (1st & 3d sing. pres. indic.) have power, am able (infin. magan), and perh. to Gk mechos means, expedient] (bef. 12c) 1 a archaic: have the ability to b: have permission to "you ~ go now": be free to "a rug on which children ~ sprawl --C. E. Silberman"--used nearly interchangeably with can c--used to indicate possibility or probability "you ~ be right" "things you ~ need"--sometimes used interchangeably with can "one of those slipups that ~ happen from time to time --Jessica Mitford" "copula ~ optionally be deleted --J. D. McCawley"--sometimes used where might would be expected "you ~ think from a little distance that the country was solid woods --Robert Frost" 2--used in auxiliary function to express a wish or desire esp. in prayer, imprecation, or benediction "long ~ he reign" 3--used in auxiliary function expressing purpose or expectation "I laugh that I ~ not weep" or contingency "she'll do her duty come what ~" or concession "he ~ be slow but he is thorough" or choice "the angler ~ catch them with a dip net, or he ~ cast a large, bare treble hook --Nelson Bryant"
4: shall, must--used in law where t he sense, purpose, or policy requires this interpretation usage see can
[2]may n [ME, fr. OE maeg kinsman, kinswoman, maiden] (bef. 12c) archaic: maiden May n [ME, fr. OF & L; OF mai, fr. L Maius, fr. Maia, Roman goddess] (12c) 1: the 5th month of the Gregorian calendar
2. often not cap: the early vigorous blooming part of human life: prime
3: the festivities of May Day
4. not cap a: green or flowering branches used for May Day decorations b: a plant that yields may: as (1): hawthorn (2): a spring-flowering spirea