释义 |
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024may•est (mā′ist),USA pronunciation v. [Archaic.]- 2nd pers. sing. pres. indic. of may1.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: mayest /ˈmeɪɪst/ vb - a variant of mayst
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024may1 /meɪ/USA pronunciation auxiliary (modal) v. [~ + root form of a verb], pres. may; past might; imperative, infinitive, and participles lacking. - (used to express the possibility or the chances of the occurrence of the main verb):It may rain. You may have been right. He might have been here before us. Her weight may have gone down.
- (used to express the willingness of the subject to receive or grant permission or have the opportunity):You may see the doctor now. May we have a word with you? If you fail three times, you may appeal to the academic department that offered the course.
- (used with another phrase or clause to express that something else follows another idea, esp. in clauses that indicate the condition, purpose, or result of something):Let's agree on this so that (as a result) we may go home early. Difficult as it may seem, I know it can be done.
- (used to express a wish or prayer appearing before its subject in an unusual word order):Long may you live! May the couple always be happy and healthy. May we yet see the light of day. Long may the banner wave.
Idioms- may as well. (used to express an opinion about a reason for doing or not doing the action of the main verb):I can't stay awake, so I may as well go to bed.
See can. May /meɪ/USA pronunciation n. [proper noun]- the fifth month of the year, containing 31 days.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024may1 (mā),USA pronunciation auxiliary v., pres. sing. 1st pers. may, 2nd may or (Archaic) may•est or mayst, 3rd may; pres. pl. may; past might. - (used to express possibility):It may rain.
- (used to express opportunity or permission):You may enter.
- (used to express contingency, esp. in clauses indicating condition, concession, purpose, result, etc.):I may be wrong but I think you would be wise to go. Times may change but human nature stays the same.
- (used to express wish or prayer):May you live to an old age.
- [Archaic.](used to express ability or power.) Cf. might1.
- bef. 900; Middle English mai 1st and 3rd pers. singular present ind. of mouen, Old English mæg (infinitive magan); cognate with German mögen
may2 (mā),USA pronunciation n. [Archaic.]- a maiden.
- bef. 900; Middle English mai; Old English mæg
May (mā),USA pronunciation n. - the fifth month of the year, containing 31 days.
- the early part of one's life, esp. the prime:a young woman in her May.
- the festivities of May Day.
- British Terms(l.c.) the hawthorn.
- a female given name.
v.i. - (l.c.) to gather flowers in the spring:when we were maying.
- Latin, short for Maius mēnsis Maia's month
- Middle English, Old English Maius bef. 1050
May (mā),USA pronunciation n. - Place Names Cape, a cape at the SE tip of New Jersey, on Delaware Bay.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024mayst (māst),USA pronunciation v. [Archaic.]- 2nd pers. sing. pres. indic. of may1.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: may /meɪ/ vb ( past might) takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive used as an auxiliary: - to indicate that permission is requested by or granted to someone: he may go to the park tomorrow if he behaves himself
- (often followed by well) to indicate possibility: the rope may break, he may well be a spy
- to indicate ability or capacity, esp in questions: may I help you?
- to express a strong wish: long may she reign
- to indicate result or purpose: used only in clauses introduced by that or so that: he writes so that the average reader may understand
- another word for might1
- to express courtesy in a question: whose child may this little girl be?
- 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
- come what may ⇒ whatever happens
- that's as may be ⇒ (followed by a clause introduced by but) that may be so
Etymology: Old English mæg, from magan: compare Old High German mag, Old Norse mā may /meɪ/ n - Also: may tree
a Brit name for hawthorn Etymology: 16th Century: from the month of May, when it flowers Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: mayst /meɪst/, mayest vb - archaic or dialect
used with the pronoun thou or its relative equivalent: a singular form of the present tense of may1
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