may

may
may1
/may/, auxiliary v., pres. sing. 1st pers. may, 2nd may or (Archaic) mayest or mayst, 3rd may; pres. pl. may; past might.
1. (used to express possibility): It may rain.
2. (used to express opportunity or permission): You may enter.
3. (used to express contingency, esp. in clauses indicating condition, concession, purpose, result, etc.): I may be wrong but I think you would be wise to go. Times may change but human nature stays the same.
4. (used to express wish or prayer): May you live to an old age.
5. Archaic. (used to express ability or power.) Cf. might1.
[bef. 900; ME mai 1st and 3rd pers. sing. pres. ind. of mouen, OE maeg (inf. magan); c. G mögen]
Usage. See can1.
may2
/may/, n. Archaic.
a maiden.
[bef. 900; ME mai; OE maeg]

* * *

(as used in expressions)
Alcott Louisa May
Fifth of May
May beetle
Lessing Doris May
Doris May Tayler
Gloria May Josephine Svensson

* * *

month
 fifth month of the Gregorian calendar. It was named after Maia, a Roman fertility goddess.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • May J. — May J. Birth name May (Jamileh) Hashimoto Also known as May J. Born June 20, 1988 (1988 06 20) (age 23) Origin Yokohama, Japan …   Wikipedia

  • May — May, n. [F. Mai, L. Maius; so named in honor of the goddess Maia (Gr. Mai^a), daughter of Atlas and mother of Mercury by Jupiter.] 1. The fifth month of the year, containing thirty one days. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. The early part or springtime …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • May — ist: ein Familienname, siehe May (Familienname) – dort auch zu Namensträgern eine Berner Patrizierfamilie, siehe May (Patrizierfamilie) ein US amerikanischer Film von Lucky McKee: May (Film) ein englischer weiblicher Vorname, siehe May (Vorname)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • May It Be — Single by Enya from the album The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Released …   Wikipedia

  • May 8 — << May 2011 >> Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 …   Wikipedia

  • May 15 — << May 2011 >> Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 …   Wikipedia

  • May — (m[=a]), v. [imp. {Might} (m[imac]t)] [AS. pres. m[ae]g I am able, pret. meahte, mihte; akin to D. mogen, G. m[ o]gen, OHG. mugan, magan, Icel. mega, Goth. magan, Russ. moche. [root]103. Cf. {Dismay}, {Main} strength, {Might}. The old imp. mought …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • May be — May May (m[=a]), v. [imp. {Might} (m[imac]t)] [AS. pres. m[ae]g I am able, pret. meahte, mihte; akin to D. mogen, G. m[ o]gen, OHG. mugan, magan, Icel. mega, Goth. magan, Russ. moche. [root]103. Cf. {Dismay}, {Main} strength, {Might}. The old imp …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • May 3 — << May 2011 >> Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 …   Wikipedia

  • May 13 — << May 2011 >> Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 …   Wikipedia

  • May — /may/, n. 1. the fifth month of the year, containing 31 days. 2. the early part of one s life, esp. the prime: a young woman in her May. 3. the festivities of May Day. 4. (l.c.) Brit. the hawthorn. 5. a female given name. v.i. 6. (l.c.) to gather …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”