may | |
1. v. (obsolete, intransitive) To be strong; to have power (over). | |
2. v. (obsolete, auxiliary) To be able; can. | |
3. v. (intransitive, poetic) To be able to go. | |
4. v. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests. | |
you may smoke outside; may I sit there? | |
5. v. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) Expressing a present possibility; possibly. | |
he may be lying; Schrödinger's cat may or may not be in the box | |
6. v. (subjunctive present, defective) Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect). | |
may you win; may the weather be sunny | |
7. v. Used in modesty, courtesy, or concession, or to soften a question or remark. | |
8. n. The hawthorn bush or its blossoms. | |
9. v. (poetic, intransitive) To gather may, or flowers in general. | |
10. v. (poetic, intransitive) To celebrate May Day. | |
11. n. (archaic) A maiden. | |