May

Main Entry:: ¹may
Pronunciation:: \ˈmā\
Function:: verbal auxiliary
Inflected Form(s):: past might \ˈmīt\ 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 (infinitive magan), and perhaps to Greek mēchos means, expedient
Date:: before 12th century

1 aarchaic : 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 <long 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

Learn more about "may" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "may" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols