may
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May
(mā)n.
1. The fifth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. See Table at calendar.
2. The springtime of life; youth.
3. The celebration of May Day.
[Middle English, from Old French mai, May, and Latin Māius (mēnsis), (the month) of Maia (Old French, from Latin), from Māia, an Italic goddess; see meg- in Indo-European roots.]
may 1
(mā)aux.v. Past tense might (mīt)
1. To be allowed or permitted to: May I take a swim? Yes, you may.
2. Used to express possibility or probability: It may rain this afternoon. See Usage Note at might2.
3. Used to express a desire or fervent wish: Long may he live!
4. Used to express contingency, purpose, or result in clauses introduced by that or so that: expressing ideas so that the average person may understand.
5. To be obliged, as where rules of construction or legal doctrine call for a specified interpretation of a word used in a law or legal document. See Usage Note at can1.
[Middle English mai, am able, is able ( first and third person sing. of mowe, to be able), from Old English mæg, first and third person sing. of magan, to be strong, be able; see magh- in Indo-European roots.]
may 2
(mā)n. Chiefly British
A hawthorn or its blossoms.
[French mai, hawthorn, from Mai, May (so called because it blooms in May); see May.]
may
(meɪ)vb, past might
1. to indicate that permission is requested by or granted to someone: he may go to the park tomorrow if he behaves himself.
2. (often foll by well) to indicate possibility: the rope may break; he may well be a spy.
3. to indicate ability or capacity, esp in questions: may I help you?.
4. to express a strong wish: long may she reign.
5. to indicate result or purpose: used only in clauses introduced by that or so that: he writes so that the average reader may understand.
6. another word for might1
7. to express courtesy in a question: whose child may this little girl be?.
8. be that as it may in spite of that: a sentence connector conceding the possible truth of a previous statement and introducing an adversative clause: be that as it may, I still think he should come.
9. come what may whatever happens
10. that's as may be (foll by a clause introduced by but) that may be so
[Old English mæg, from magan: compare Old High German mag, Old Norse mā]
Usage: It was formerly considered correct to use may rather than can when referring to permission as in: you may use the laboratory for your experiments, but this use of may is now almost entirely restricted to polite questions such as: may I open the window? The use of may with if in constructions such as: your analysis may have been more credible if … is generally regarded as incorrect, might being preferred: your analysis might have been more credible if …
may
(meɪ)n
an archaic word for maiden
[Old English mæg; related to Old High German māg kinsman, Old Norse māgr a relative by marriage]
may
(meɪ)n
1. (Plants) Also: may tree a Brit name for hawthorn
2. (Plants) short for may blossom
[C16: from the month of May, when it flowers]
May
(meɪ)n
the fifth month of the year, consisting of 31 days
[from Old French, from Latin Maius, probably from Maia, Roman goddess, identified with the Greek goddess Maia]
May
(meɪ)n
(Biography) Robert McCredie, Baron. born 1936, Australian biologist and ecologist
may
(meɪ)auxiliary v., pres. may;
1. (used to express possibility): It may rain. You may have been right.
2. (used to express opportunity or permission): You may enter.
3. (used to express contingency, esp. in clauses indicating condition, concession, purpose, result, etc.): strange as it may seem; Let us concur so that we may live in peace.
4. (used to express wish or prayer): Long may you live!
5. Archaic. (used to express ability or power.)
Idioms: be that as it may, whether or not that is true.
[before 900; Middle English mai 1st and 3rd pers. singular present indic. of mouen, Old English mæg (infinitive magan), c. Old Frisian mei, Old Saxon, Old High German, Gothic mag, Old Norse mā; compare main, might2]
usage: See can1.
May
(meɪ)n.
1. the fifth month of the year, containing 31 days.
2. (often l.c.) the early flourishing part of life; prime.
3. the festive activities of May Day.
v.i. 4. (l.c.) to gather flowers in May.
[before 1050; Middle English, Old English Maius < Latin, short for Māius mēnsis]
May
(meɪ)n.
Cape, a cape at the SE tip of New Jersey, on Delaware Bay.
might
– mayMight and may are used mainly to talk about possibility. They can also be used to make a request, to ask permission, or to make a suggestion. When might and may are used with the same meaning, may is more formal than might. Might and may are called modals.
In conversation, the negative form mightn't is often used instead of 'might not'. The form mayn't is much less common. People usually use the full form may not.
He mightn't have time to see you.
It may not be as hard as you think.
1. possibility: the present and the future
You can use might or may to say that it is possible that something is true or that something will happen in the future.
I might see you at the party.
This may be why she enjoys her work.
You can use could in a similar way, but only in positive sentences.
Don't eat it. It could be poisonous.
You can use might well or may well to show that it is fairly likely that something is true.
You might well be right.
I think that may well be the last time we see him.
You use might not or may not to say that it is possible that something is not true.
He might not like spicy food.
That may not be the reason she left.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'might not' or 'may not' to say that it is impossible that something is true. Instead you use could not, cannot, or can't.
She could not have known what happened unless she was there.
He cannot be younger than me.
You can't talk to the dead.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'may' when you are asking if something is possible. Don't say, for example, 'May he be right?' Say 'Might he be right?' or, more usually, 'Could he be right?'
Might we have got the date wrong?
Could this be true?
Be Careful!
Don't say 'What may happen?' You usually say 'What is likely to happen?'
What are likely to be the effects of these changes?
2. possibility: the past
You use might or may with have to say that it is possible that something happened in the past, but you do not know whether it happened or not.
Jorge didn't play well. He might have been feeling tired.
I may have been a little unfair to you.
Could have can be used in a similar way.
It could have been one of the staff that stole the money.
Be Careful!
However, if something did not happen and you want to say that there was a possibility of it happening, you can only use might have or could have. Don't use 'may have'. For example, you say 'If he hadn't fallen, he might have won the race'. Don't say 'If he hadn't hurt his ankle, he may have won the race'.
A lot of men died who might have been saved.
You use might not or may not with have to say that it is possible that something did not happen or was not true.
They might not have got your message.
Her parents may not have realized what she was doing.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'might not have' or 'may not have' to say that it is impossible that something happened or was true. Instead you use could not have or, in British English, cannot have.
They could not have guessed what was going to happen.
The measurement can't have been wrong.
3. requests and permission
In formal English, may and might are sometimes used for making a request, or asking or giving permission.
Might I ask a question?
You may leave the table.
4. suggestions
Might is often used in polite suggestions.
You might like to read this and see what you think.
I think it might be better to switch off your phones.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  May - the month following April and preceding JuneGregorian calendar, New Style calendar - the solar calendar now in general use, introduced by Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct an error in the Julian calendar by suppressing 10 days, making Oct 5 be called Oct 15, and providing that only centenary years divisible by 400 should be leap years; it was adopted by Great Britain and the American colonies in 1752 First of May, May 1, May Day - observed in many countries to celebrate the coming of spring; observed in Russia and related countries in honor of labor Mother's Day - second Sunday in May Armed Forces Day - the 3rd Saturday in May Decoration Day, Memorial Day - legal holiday in the United States, last Monday in May; commemorates the members of the United States armed forces who were killed in war Gregorian calendar month - a month in the Gregorian calendar mid-May - the middle part of May |
| 2. |  may - thorny Eurasian shrub of small tree having dense clusters of white to scarlet flowers followed by deep red berries; established as an escape in eastern North AmericaCrataegus, genus Crataegus - thorny shrubs and small trees: hawthorn; thorn; thorn apple |
Translations
глог
maig
smětkvětenmožnánechťsnad
majmåskemåmåttefå lov til
majo
شاید
saadasaattaatoukokuuvoidaTouko
मई
svibanjmoćismjeti
májusszabadlehet
mei
maímegigetageturmá
･･･してもよいかもしれない五月
~일지도 모른다~해도 되다5월오월
maius
galėtigalėti irgegužėGegužės pirmoji
drīkstētdrīkstēt/varēt tikpat labiiespējamsmaijsvarbūt
mai
májnech
majMaja
мај
fåkanskemajMaykunna
เดือนพฤษภาคมสามารถจะ (ใช้ขออนุญาต)อาจจะ
mayısmuktedir olmakdilerim ki-ebilirİnşallah
có thểtháng Năm
May
[meɪ]A. N → mayo m
see July for usage
see July for usage
may
1 [meɪ] (might (pt, cond)) MODAL AUX VB1. (of possibility) it may rain → puede or es posible que llueva
it may be that he has had to go out → puede (ser) que haya tenido que salir
he may not be hungry → a lo mejor no tiene hambre
they may well be related → puede que sean parientes
that's as may be → eso puede ser
be that as it may → sea como sea
they may have gone out → puede que hayan salido, a lo mejor han salido
he may not have spoken to her yet → a lo mejor no ha hablado con ella todavía, puede que no haya hablado con ella todavía
I may have said so → es posible que lo haya dicho, puede que lo haya dicho
yes, I may → sí, es posible, sí, a lo mejor
I might have said so → pudiera haberlo dicho
as you might expect → como era de esperar, según cabía esperar
who might you be? → ¿quién es usted?
how old might you be? → ¿cuántos años tendrás?
such a policy as might bring peace → una política que pudiera traernos la paz
it may be that he has had to go out → puede (ser) que haya tenido que salir
he may not be hungry → a lo mejor no tiene hambre
they may well be related → puede que sean parientes
that's as may be → eso puede ser
be that as it may → sea como sea
they may have gone out → puede que hayan salido, a lo mejor han salido
he may not have spoken to her yet → a lo mejor no ha hablado con ella todavía, puede que no haya hablado con ella todavía
I may have said so → es posible que lo haya dicho, puede que lo haya dicho
yes, I may → sí, es posible, sí, a lo mejor
I might have said so → pudiera haberlo dicho
as you might expect → como era de esperar, según cabía esperar
who might you be? → ¿quién es usted?
how old might you be? → ¿cuántos años tendrás?
such a policy as might bring peace → una política que pudiera traernos la paz
2. (of permission) → poder
yes, you may → sí, puedes, ¡cómo no!
if I may → si me lo permites
may I? → ¿me permite?, con permiso
may I go now? → ¿puedo irme ya?
may I see it? → ¿se puede ver?, ¿puedo verlo?
may I come in? → ¿se puede?, con permiso
you may smoke → se permite fumar
you may not smoke → se prohíbe fumar
if I may advise you → si permites que te dé un consejo
might I suggest that ...? → me permito sugerir que ...
yes, you may → sí, puedes, ¡cómo no!
if I may → si me lo permites
may I? → ¿me permite?, con permiso
may I go now? → ¿puedo irme ya?
may I see it? → ¿se puede ver?, ¿puedo verlo?
may I come in? → ¿se puede?, con permiso
you may smoke → se permite fumar
you may not smoke → se prohíbe fumar
if I may advise you → si permites que te dé un consejo
might I suggest that ...? → me permito sugerir que ...
3. (in wishes) may you have a happy life together → ¡que seáis felices!
may God bless you → ¡Dios te bendiga!
may you be forgiven! → ¡que Dios te perdone!
long may he reign! → ¡que reine muchos años!
or may I never eat prawns again → o que no vuelva nunca a comer gambas
may God bless you → ¡Dios te bendiga!
may you be forgiven! → ¡que Dios te perdone!
long may he reign! → ¡que reine muchos años!
or may I never eat prawns again → o que no vuelva nunca a comer gambas
4. (frm or liter) I hope he may succeed → espero que tenga éxito
I hoped he might succeed this time → esperaba que lo lograra esta vez
I hoped he might succeed this time → esperaba que lo lograra esta vez
5. might
6. (in phrases) we may or might as well go → vámonos ya or de una vez
run as he might → por mucho que corriese
run as he might → por mucho que corriese
may
2 [meɪ] N (Bot) (= blossom) → flor f del espino (Brit) (= tree) → espino mMay
[ˈmeɪ]may
[ˈmeɪ] modal aux vb (indicating possibility) he may come → il se peut qu'il vienne, il viendra peut-être
It may rain → Il se peut qu'il pleuve., Il va peut-être pleuvoir.
I may
"Are you going to the party?" - "I don't know, I may." → "Est-ce que tu vas à la soirée?" - "Je ne sais pas, j'irai peut-être.", "Est-ce que tu vas à la soirée?" - "Je ne sais pas, il se peut que j'y aille."
come what may → advienne que pourra
It may rain → Il se peut qu'il pleuve., Il va peut-être pleuvoir.
I may
"Are you going to the party?" - "I don't know, I may." → "Est-ce que tu vas à la soirée?" - "Je ne sais pas, j'irai peut-être.", "Est-ce que tu vas à la soirée?" - "Je ne sais pas, il se peut que j'y aille."
come what may → advienne que pourra
(= can) → pouvoir
(when asking or giving permission)
May I smoke? → Est-ce que je peux fumer?, Puis-je fumer?
May I sit here? → Est-ce que je peux m'asseoir ici?, Puis-je m'asseoir ici?
May we come in? → Pouvons-nous entrer?, Est-ce que nous pouvons entrer?
You may leave → Vous pouvez partir.
May I smoke? → Est-ce que je peux fumer?, Puis-je fumer?
May I sit here? → Est-ce que je peux m'asseoir ici?, Puis-je m'asseoir ici?
May we come in? → Pouvons-nous entrer?, Est-ce que nous pouvons entrer?
You may leave → Vous pouvez partir.
May
n → Mai m
may
vi pret <might> ? also might1
(possibility: also might) → können; it may rain → es könnte regnen, vielleicht regnet es; it may be that … → vielleicht…, es könnte sein, dass …; although it may have been useful → obwohl es hätte nützlich sein können; he may not be hungry → vielleicht hat er keinen Hunger; I may have said so → es kann or könnte sein, dass ich das gesagt habe; you may be right → Sie könnten recht haben; there may not be a next time → vielleicht gibts gar kein nächstes Mal; they may be brothers for all I know → es kann or könnte sein, dass sie Brüder sind; yes, I may → ja, das ist möglich or das kann sein; I may just do that → vielleicht tue ich das wirklich; that’s as may be (not might) → das mag ja sein(, aber …); one may well wonder why … → die Frage wäre wohl berechtigt, warum …; you may well ask → das kann man wohl fragen
I hope he may succeed → ich hoffe, dass es ihm gelingt; I had hoped he might succeed this time → ich hatte gehofft, es würde ihm diesmal gelingen; such a policy as may or might bring peace → eine Politik, die zum Frieden führen könnte; we may or might as well go → ich glaube, wir können (ruhig) gehen; you may or might as well go now → du kannst jetzt ruhig gehen; if they don’t have it we may or might as well go to another firm → wenn sie es nicht haben, gehen wir am besten zu einer anderen Firma; if they won’t help we may or might just as well give up → wenn sie uns nicht helfen, können wir (ja) gleich aufgeben
(in wishes) may you be successful! → (ich wünsche Ihnen) viel Erfolg!; may your days be full of joy → mögen Ihnen glückliche Tage beschieden sein; may you be very happy together → ich wünsche euch, dass ihr sehr glücklich miteinander werdet; may the Lord have mercy on your soul → der Herr sei deiner Seele gnädig; may you be forgiven (inf) → so was tut man doch nicht!; may I be struck dead if I lie! → ich will auf der Stelle tot umfallen, wenn das nicht stimmt
(in questions) who may or might you be? → und wer sind Sie?, wer sind Sie denn?
May
:May beetle, May bug
n (Zool) → Maikäfer m
May Day
n → der 1. Mai, der Maifeiertag
may
:maypole
n → Maibaum m
May queen
n → Maikönigin f
May
[meɪ] n → maggiofor usage see July
may
[meɪ] (might (pt)) modal aux vba. (possibility) she may come → può darsi che venga, può venire
he might come → potrebbe venire, può anche darsi che venga
I might well go → potrei anche andare
he might be there → può darsi che ci sia
he may not be hungry → potrebbe non aver fame, può darsi che non abbia fame
they may well be connected → può darsi benissimo che ci sia un legame
that's as may be → può anche darsi
be that as it may → comunque sia, sia come sia
you may well ask! → è quello che mi chiedo anch'io!
he might come → potrebbe venire, può anche darsi che venga
I might well go → potrei anche andare
he might be there → può darsi che ci sia
he may not be hungry → potrebbe non aver fame, può darsi che non abbia fame
they may well be connected → può darsi benissimo che ci sia un legame
that's as may be → può anche darsi
be that as it may → comunque sia, sia come sia
you may well ask! → è quello che mi chiedo anch'io!
b. (of permission) may I smoke? → posso fumare?
may I have a cigarette? - yes, of course → potrei avere una sigaretta? - sì, prego
may I sit here? → le dispiace se mi siedo qua?
if I may say so → se mi è concesso dirlo
may I? → permette?
might I suggest that ...? → con il suo permesso suggerirei che...
he said I might leave → mi ha detto che potevo andare
may I have a cigarette? - yes, of course → potrei avere una sigaretta? - sì, prego
may I sit here? → le dispiace se mi siedo qua?
if I may say so → se mi è concesso dirlo
may I? → permette?
might I suggest that ...? → con il suo permesso suggerirei che...
he said I might leave → mi ha detto che potevo andare
c. I hope he may succeed (frm) → spero che ci riesca
I hoped he might succeed this time → speravo che stavolta ci sarebbe riuscito
we may or might as well go → tanto vale che ci andiamo
he might have offered to help → avrebbe potuto offrirsi di aiutare
as you might expect → come c'era da aspettarsi
you might like to try → forse le piacerebbe provare
I hoped he might succeed this time → speravo che stavolta ci sarebbe riuscito
we may or might as well go → tanto vale che ci andiamo
he might have offered to help → avrebbe potuto offrirsi di aiutare
as you might expect → come c'era da aspettarsi
you might like to try → forse le piacerebbe provare
may
(mei) – negative short form mayn't (ˈmeiənt) –
1. to have the permission to. You may go home now.
2. used to express a possibility in the present or future. He may be here, I don't know.
3. used to express a wish. May you live a long and happy life.
may as well might as well.
may have used to express a possibility in the past. He may have been here, but we cannot be sure.
May
(mei) noun the fifth month of the year, the month following April.
May Day the first day of May, an especially socialist holiday or festival in many countries.
ˈmaypole noun a decorated pole for dancing round on May Day.
may
→ تَسْمَحُ لِ...بِ, مَايُو, مِنَ الـمُحْتَمَل květen, možná, smět må, maj, måske dürfen, können, Mai επιτρέπω, Μάιος, μπορώ mayo, poder saada, saattaa, toukokuu avoir le droit de, mai, pouvoir moći, smjeti, svibanj maggio, potere ･･･してもよい, かもしれない, 五月 ~일지도 모른다, ~해도 되다, 5월 kunnen, mei, mogen kunne, mai, muligens maj, móc maio, poder, talvez иметь возможность, май, получить разрешение få, kanske, maj เดือนพฤษภาคม, สามารถจะ (ใช้ขออนุญาต), อาจจะ izin istemek, Mayıs, muktedir olmak có thể, tháng Năm 五月, 可以做, 可能做may
v. aux. poder, [possibility];
it ___ be → puede ser;
[permission] ___ I see you? → ¿Puedo verlo-a? ¿Puedo verte?;
___ I come in? → ¿Puedo entrar?