might

auxiliary verb

1. simple past tense of may1.
2. (used to express possibility): They might be at the station.
3. (used to express advisability): You might at least thank me.
4. (used in polite requests for permission): Might I speak to you for a moment?

noun

1. physical strength: He swung with all his might.
2. superior power or strength; force: the theory that might makes right.
3. power or ability to do or accomplish; capacity: the might of the ballot box.

Idioms

4. with might and main, with all the vigor, force, or energy at one’s command: They pulled with might and main.

auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person may, 2nd may or (Archaic) may·est or mayst, 3rd may; present plural may; past might.

1. (used to express possibility): It may rain.
2. (used to express opportunity or permission): You may enter.
3. (used to express contingency, especially in clauses indicating condition, concession, purpose, result, etc.): I may be wrong but I think you would be wise to go. Times may change but human nature stays the same.
4. (used to express wish or prayer): May you live to an old age.
5. Archaic. (used to express ability or power.)

verb

1. making the past tense or subjunctive mood of may 1 he might have come last night
2. (often foll by well) expressing theoretical possibility: he might well come . In this sense might looks to the future and functions as a weak form of maySee may 1 (def. 2)

noun

1. power, force, or vigour, esp of a great or supreme kind
2. physical strength
3. (with) might and main See main 1 (def. 8)

noun

1. the fifth month of the year, consisting of 31 days

noun

1. Robert McCredie, Baron. born 1936, Australian biologist and ecologist

verb past might (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive used as an auxiliary)

1. to indicate that permission is requested by or granted to someonehe may go to the park tomorrow if he behaves himself
2. (often foll by well) to indicate possibilitythe rope may break; he may well be a spy
3. to indicate ability or capacity, esp in questionsmay I help you?
4. to express a strong wishlong may she reign
5. to indicate result or purpose: used only in clauses introduced by that or so thathe writes so that the average reader may understand
6. another word for might 1
7. to express courtesy in a questionwhose child may this little girl be?
8. be that as it may in spite of that: a sentence connector conceding the possible truth of a previous statement and introducing an adversative clausebe that as it may, I still think he should come
9. come what may whatever happens
10. that’s as may be (foll by a clause introduced by but) that may be so

noun

1. an archaic word for maiden

noun

1. Also: may tree a Brit name for hawthorn
2. short for may blossom

v.Old English mihte, meahte, originally the past tense of may (Old English magen “to be able”), thus “*may-ed.” See may (v.). The first record of might-have-been is from 1848. n.Old English miht, earlier mæht “might, bodily strength, power, authority, ability,” from Proto-Germanic *makhti- (cf. Old Norse mattr, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Dutch macht, Old High German maht, German Macht, Gothic mahts), Germanic suffixed form of PIE root *magh- (1) “be able, have power” (see may (v.)). v.1Old English mæg “am able” (infinitive magan, past tense meahte, mihte), from Proto-Germanic root *mag-, infinitive *maganan (Old Frisian mei/muga/machte “have power, may;” Old Saxon mag/mugan/mahte; Middle Dutch mach/moghen/mohte; Dutch mag/mogen/mocht; Old High German mag/magan/mahta; German mag/mögen/mochte; Old Norse ma/mega/matte; Gothic mag/magan/mahte “to be able”), from PIE *magh- (1) “to be able, have power” (cf. Greek mekhos, makhos “means, instrument,” Old Church Slavonic mogo “to be able,” mosti “power, force,” Sanskrit mahan “great”). Also used in Old English as a “auxiliary of prediction.” fifth month, early 12c., from Old French mai and directly from Latin Majus, Maius mensis “month of May,” possibly from Maja, Maia, a Roman earth goddess (wife of Vulcan) whose name is of unknown origin; possibly from PIE *mag-ya “she who is great,” fem. suffixed form of root *meg- “great” (cognate with Latin magnus). Replaced Old English þrimilce, month in which cows can be milked three times a day. May marriages have been considered unlucky at least since Ovid’s day. May-apple attested from 1733, American English. v.2“to take part in May Day festivities,” late 15c., from May. Related: Mayed; maying. see be that as it may; come what may; let the chips fall where they may; to whom it may concern.