I. (|)mā, _mə̇ verb
( past might (|)mīt, usu -īd.+V ; or chiefly dialect mought or mout or mowt (|)mau̇]t, (|)mō], usu ]d.+V ; or archaic second singular (with “thou”) might·est |mīd.ə̇st, -ītə̇- ; present singular & plural may or archaic second singular may·est or (with “thou”) mayst |māə̇st, (|)māst)
Etymology: Middle English, have power, am able (1st & 3d singular present indicative of mowen, mayen, past mighte, moghte ), from Old English mæg (infin. magan, past meahte, mihte ); akin to Old High German mag have power, am able (infin. magan, mugan ), Old Norse mā (infin. mega ), Gothic mag have power, am able, Greek mēchos means, expedient, Sanskrit magha gift, wealth, power
intransitive verb
obsolete : to have power : be able
verbal auxiliary
1. archaic : have the ability or competence to : can
2.
a. : have permission to
you may go now
no one may enter without a ticket
if I may interrupt to point out
: have liberty to
you may say what you please, I won't do it
may I ask why it is forbidden
— used nearly interchangeably with can
b. : be in some degree likely to
you may be right
they may get here in time after all
may easily be the best play of the season
— used sometimes to avoid bluntness in a question
how old may you be
or request
may I help you, or are you already being waited on
— compare might
3. — used in auxiliary function to express a wish or desire especially in prayer, imprecation, or benediction
may he reign in health
may they all be damned
may the best man win
4. — used in auxiliary function expressing purpose or expectation
I laugh that I may not weep
flatters so that he may win favor
or contingency
he'll do his duty come what may
or concession
he may be slow but he is thorough
— compare might
5. : shall , must — used especially in deeds, contracts, and statutes
II. ˈmā\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mǣg; akin to Old English mǣg kinsman — more at maegbote
archaic : maiden
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French & Latin; Old French mai, from Latin maius, from Maia, Roman goddess associated with Vulcan
1. usually capitalized : the fifth month of the Gregorian calendar — see month table
2. often capitalized : the early vigorous blooming part of human life : prime , heyday
3. usually capitalized : the merrymaking of May Day
4.
a. : green or flowering branches used for May Day decorations ; especially : flowering branches of the hawthorn
b. : a plant that yields may: as
(1) : hawthorn
(2) dialect England : sycamore
(3) : an evergreen rutaceous shrub ( Coleonema album ) of southern Africa with fragrant white flowers in spring — called also Cape may
(4) : any of several spring-flowering spireas
IV. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: Middle English mayen, from may, n.
: to take part in the festivities of May or May Day ; especially : to gather flowers in May
V.
dialect England
variant of make I