may
I. may1 (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 indicate a certain measure of likelihood or possibility: It may rain this afternoon. 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; must. Used in statutes, deeds, and other legal documents. See Usage Note at can1. [Middle English, 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.] II. may2 (mā)n. Chiefly British The blossoms of the hawthorn. [French mai, hawthorn, from Mai, May (so called because it blooms in May). See May.]
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