Etimology
From Middle English mowen, mayen, moȝen, maȝen, from Old English magan, from Proto-West Germanic *magan, from Proto-Germanic *maganą, from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-. Cognate with Dutch mag (“may”, first and third-person singular of mogen (“to be able to, be allowed to, may”)), Low German mögen, German mag (“like”, first and third-person singular of mögen (“to like, want, require”)), Swedish må, Icelandic mega, megum. See also might.
verb
may (third-person singular simple present may, no present participle, simple past might, no past participle)
(obsolete, intransitive) To be strong; to have power (over). [8th–17th c.]
(obsolete, auxiliary) To be able; can. [8th–17th c.]
(intransitive, poetic) To be able to go. [from 9th c.]
(modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests. [from 9th c.]
(modal auxiliary verb, defective) Expressing a present possibility; possibly. [from 13th c.]
(subjunctive present, defective) Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect). [from 16th c.]
Used in modesty, courtesy, or concession, or to soften a question or remark.
Examples
But many times […] we give way to passions we may resist and will not.
O weary night, O long and tedious night, Abate thy houres, shine comforts from the East, That I may backe to Athens by day-light […].
Synonyms: can, could, might
you may smoke outside; may I sit there?
Synonyms: could, might
he may be lying; Schrödinger's cat may or may not be in the box
The result may not quite give the Wearsiders a sweet ending to what has been a sour week, following allegations of sexual assault and drug possession against defender Titus Bramble, but it does at least demonstrate that their spirit remains strong in the face of adversity.
Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.
Synonym: might
may you win; may the weather be sunny
May God bless and keep you always / May your wishes all come true / May you always do for others / And let others do for you / May you build a ladder to the stars / And climb on every rung / May you stay forever young
May I never miss the thrill of being near you
How old may Phillis be, you ask, / Whose Beauty thus all Hearts engages.
Etimology
French mai, so called because it blossoms in the month of May.
noun
may (uncountable)
The hawthorn bush or its blossoms.
verb
may (third-person singular simple present mays, present participle maying, simple past and past participle mayed)
(poetic, intransitive) To gather may, or flowers in general.
(poetic, intransitive) To celebrate May Day.
Examples
Soo it befelle in the moneth of May / quene Gueneuer called vnto her knyȝtes of the table round / and she gafe them warnynge that erly vpon the morowe she wold ryde on mayeng in to woodes & feldes besyde westmynstre."So it befell in the month of May, Queen Guenever called unto her knights of the Table Round; and she gave them warning that early upon the morrow she would ride a-Maying into woods and fields beside Westminster."
In valleys green and still / Where lovers wander maying
Etimology
From Middle English may, maye (“woman, maid, girl, virgin”), from Old English mǣġ (“kinswoman”), from Proto-West Germanic *māg, from Proto-Germanic *mēgaz (“kinsman”). Related to Old English māge, mǣġe (“kinswoman”) and Old English mǣġ (“kinsman”).
noun
may (plural mays)
(archaic) A maiden.