̈ɪmeɪ v.aux. (3rd
sing. present may;
past might) 1 (often foll. by well
for emphasis) expressing
possibility (it may be
true; I may
have been wrong;
you may well
lose your way). 2 expressing
permission (you may
not go; may I
come in?). °Both can
and may are used to express permission; in
more formal contexts may is
usual since can
also denotes
capability (can I move? = am I physically
able to move?; may I
move = am I allowed to move?). 3 expressing a
wish (may he live to
regret it). 4 expressing
uncertainty or irony in questions (who may you be?;
who are you, may I ask?). 5 in
purpose clauses and
after wish,
fear, etc. (take
such measures as may
avert disaster;
hope he may succeed). øbe
that as it may (or that is as may be) that may or may not be so (implying that
there are
other factors) (be that as it may, I still
want to go). [OE
móg f. Gmc, rel. to
MAIN(1), MIGHT(2)]