May (1), Mai, Maie (1), Maye

[0. Fr. Mai, May; Fr. Mai, from Lat. Maius May, as the month of growth, from Maia =the godde of in. crease or growth, from the same root as Lat. magnus; Eng. may (auxil. verb).] 1. The fifth month of the year. *2. The early part of life; the spring. "His May of youth, and bloom of lustihood." Shakesp: Much Ado about Nothing, v. 1. 3. A familiar name for hawthorn-blo om, from its appearing about the end of May. Italian May is Spirœa filipendula . *4. The sports of May-day; May-games. May-apple, s . Several spireas are also called May. Thus IMG:content-1011.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1012.png:[blocks in formation] repens. 2. In England, the hawthorn. "Mayflower," The, s. The ve el in which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to this country. The follow ing is a copy of the covenant agreed upon on board the Mayflower, and subscribed to at Cape Cod on the 11th Nov., 1620: "In the name of God Amen! We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., have undertaken for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and of one another covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic for our better ordering and preservation, and furthermore of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices from time to time, as shall be thought most mete and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submi ion and obedience. In witne , whereof, we have hereto subscribed our names, at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our sover. eign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the Eighteenth, and of Scotland the Fifty-fourth, Anno Domini, 1620."