may

Noun

The hawthorn bush or its blossoms.

Verb

1. (intransitive, no-past-participle, no-present-participle, obsolete) To be strong; to have power (over).
2. (auxiliary, no-past-participle, no-present-participle, obsolete) To be able; can.
3. (intransitive, no-past-participle, no-present-participle, poetic) To be able to go.
4. (auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participle) To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests.
5. (auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participle) Granting the admissibility of a supposition, in a way that can be semantically either subjunctive or indicative.
6. (auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participle) Granting the admissibility of a supposition, in a way that can be semantically either subjunctive or indicative.
7. (defective, no-past-participle, no-present-participle, poetic, present, subjunctive) Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect).
8. (auxiliary, defective, modal, no-past-participle, no-present-participle) Used in modesty, courtesy, or concession, or to soften a question or remark.

Verb

1. (intransitive, poetic) To gather may, or flowers in general.
2. (intransitive, poetic) To celebrate May Day.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/meɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: may

Inherited from Old English: mǣġ

Cognate with Old English: māge

Cognate with Old English: mǣġ

In summary

From French mai, so called because it blossoms in the month of May.

Synonyms

can

might

perhaps

let

may be

possibly

will

be able to

could

be allowed to

shall

be allowed

whitethorn

hawthorn

would that

able

probably

English hawthorn

possible

be able

must

let it be

I wish

very well

able to

be possible

should

OK

🆗

Crataegus laevigata

Crataegus oxycantha

quickthorn

be competent

-able

quickthorns

evergreen thorn

apple haw

good

👍

cf. May flower

allowed

all right

be

dare

fine

grant

have to

haw

hawthorns

invoke

it seems

lest

Translations

potere

poder

pouvoir

mogen

dürfen

móc

poder

aubépine

μπορώ

mögen

können

maggio

estrepeiro

kunnen

mai

Sentences

She may be lost .

He may have been a soldier .

A shepherd may like to travel , but he should never forget about his sheep .

Debate may also end if no senator wishes to make any further remarks .

There may also be pollution control or waste treatment facilities or equipment .

Shock jocks may have sex workers as guests .