may

Meanings

• verb

  Have the power or ability to (do something); be permitted to; be likely to.

  - "You may enter the room if you knock first."
  - "May I please have a glass of water?"
  - "The law may grant an exception in certain cases."

• verb

  Grant permission or authorization.

  - "The manager may the employee's request for a day off."
  - "The king may the construction of a new road."
  - "Parents may their children's decisions, especially when they grow older."

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Pronunciation

1. /meɪ/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=473888"
2. /meɪ/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=473888"
3. /meɪ/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=473888"

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Synonyms

can , could , might , could , might , might

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with may
mayday , gay , play , stray , pray

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Homophones

Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

1. may (English) : the fifth month of the year
   

2. may (Scottish Gaelic) : mother
   

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Variants

List of all variants of may that leads to same result
may , might , mays , May , Mays , Theresa Mary May , Theresa May , mayest , mayst , May Day , may days , may I just say , devil-may-care , Cape May , be that as it may

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Forms

Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

may+s: may's, may+es: mayes, may+not: may not, may+be: may be, may+have: may have, may+has: may has, may+had: may had, may+will: may will, may+would: may would, may+shall: may shall, may+should: may should, may+can: may can, may+could: may could, may+might: may might

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English 'magan' - to be able, have power.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The month of May is named after the Roman goddess Maia.

2. In Scrabble, the letter sequence 'may' is worth 14 points.

3. The phrase 'May the best man win' is often used to express a desire for fairness and competitiveness.

4. In the Harry Potter series, 'May' is the name of a house at Hogwarts.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. permission: The act of allowing or enabling someone to do something.

2. authorization: The formal approval to do something.

3. ability: The capacity to do something.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'may' is often used in expressions of politeness and permission, such as 'May I help you?' or 'May I please have a moment of your time?'. In art, it is used as a title for paintings and sculptures, as well as the name of various musical compositions. In music, 'May' is the name of a popular song by Queen.

How to Memorize "may"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a person granting permission, such as a teacher nodding or a king signing a decree.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'may' with the idea of granting permission or ability.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic using the first letter of each definition: 'Mighty Authorities Allow You'.

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Memorize "may" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize may is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

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2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.