GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

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 mought is obsolete, except as a provincial word.]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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