may

i. [MAY (1), 8.] To celebrate the festivities of May. (Only used now in the phrases to go a- maying, to be a - maying.) "See! see! oh see! who here is come a- maying." Ben Jonson, s. 13. mây, *mai, auxil . v. (pa. t. might, *mighte, * mought ). [A. S. mug an to be able; ic mag =1 may or can, pa. t. ic mihte ; O. Sax. mug an ; ik mag =I may, pa. t. mahta ; Icel. mega ; ek má I may, pa. t. ek mátti ; Dut. mogen ; ic mag =I may, pa. t. 2654 ik mogt; Dan. ic maa=I may, pa. t. maatte ; Sw. må, pa. t. måtte ; Ger. mögen; ich mag I may, pa. t. mochte; Goth. mag an; ik mag =I may, pa. t. ik mahta . From the same root as Lat. magnus = great, mactus =honored; Sansc. mah =to honor.] An auxiliary verb, denoting 1. Subjective power, ability, or might. "I am coming on To venge me as I may." Shakesp.: Henry V. , i. 2. In this sense almost, if not quite, obsolete, its place being taken by can ; may being reserved for those cases in which there is something regarded as po ibly true or likely to happen. 2. Permi ion, opportunity, or liberty offered. "There thou mayst brain him." Shakesp.: Tempest, iii. 2. 3. Po ibility with contingency; synonymous with the adverb perhaps. "A score of ewes may be worth ten pounds."-Shakesp.: Henry IV ., Pt . II ., iii. 2. 4. Opportunity; moral power. "For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord." Zephaniah iii. 9. 5. Used to avoid too great bluntne in putting a question, or as suggesting a doubt whether the person addre ed is able to answer it definitely. "Who might be your mother?" Shakesp.: As You Like It , iii. 5. mazarin in beautiful fine yellow crystals. Specific gravity, 112. It acts as an acid, and is very soluble in alcohol, ether, and oils. It melts at 105° to a transparent gla .