may
/meɪ/ · verb
Meaning
- To be strong; to have power (over).
- (auxiliary) To be able; can.
- To be able to go.
- (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests.
- (modal auxiliary verb, defective) Expressing a present possibility; possibly.
- (subjunctive present, defective) Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect).
- The hawthorn bush or its blossoms.
- To gather may, or flowers in general.
- To celebrate May Day.
- A maiden.
Etymology / origin
No prose etymology has been added yet.
No ancestor words have been linked yet.
Related words
Descendant words
No descendant words have been linked yet.