may

may¹

modal verb (3rd singular present may; past might mʌɪt)

1》 expressing possibility.

2》 expressing permission.

3》 expressing a wish or hope.

Phrases

be that as it may nevertheless.

that is as may be that may or may not be so.

Origin

OE mæg, of Gmc origin, from a base meaning 'have power'.

Usage

Traditionalists insist that one should distinguish between may (present tense) and might (past tense) in expressing possibility: I may have some dessert if I'm still hungry; she might have known her killer. However, this distinction is rarely observed today, and may and might are generally acceptable in either case.

On the difference in use between may and can, see usage at can¹.

————————

may²

noun the hawthorn or its blossom.

Origin

ME: from May.