GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions 

  1.       

    May , v. [imp. Might ] [AS. pres. maeg I am able, pret. meahte, mihte; akin to D. mogen, G. mögen, OHG. mugan, magan, Icel. mega, Goth. magan, Russ. moche. √103.  Cf. Dismay, Main strength, Might. The old imp. mought is obsolete, except as a provincial word.] An auxiliary verb qualifying the meaning of another verb, by expressing: (a) Ability, competency, or possibility; -- now oftener expressed by can.
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    How may a man, said he, with idle speech,
    Be won to spoil the castle of his health!
    Spenser.

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    For what he [the king] may do is of two kinds; what he may do as just, and what he may do as possible.
    Bacon.

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    For of all sad words of tongue or pen
    The saddest are these: “It might have been.”
    Whittier.

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    (b) Liberty; permission; allowance.
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    Thou mayst be no longer steward.
    Luke xvi. 2.

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    (c) Contingency or liability; possibility or probability.
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    Though what he learns he speaks, and may advance
    Some general maxims, or be right by chance.
    Pope.

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    (d) Modesty, courtesy, or concession, or a desire to soften a question or remark.
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    How old may Phillis be, you ask.
    Prior.

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    (e) Desire or wish, as in prayer, imprecation, benediction, and the like. “May you live happily.”  
    Dryden.

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    May be, and It may be, are used as equivalent to possibly, perhaps, maybe, by chance, peradventure. See 1st Maybe.
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  2.       

    Might , imp. of May. [AS. meahte, mihte.]
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  3.       

    Might, n. [AS. meaht, miht, from the root of magan to be able, E. may; akin to D. magt, OS. maht, G. macht, Icel. māttr, Goth. mahts. √103.  See May, v.] Force or power of any kind, whether of body or mind; energy or intensity of purpose, feeling, or action; means or resources to effect an object; strength; force; power; ability; capacity.
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    What so strong,
    But wanting rest, will also want of might?
    Spenser.

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    Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
    Deut. vi. 5.

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    With might and main. See under 2d Main.
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