mought

[mawt]

South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. a simple past tense of may.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mought¹

First recorded in 1550–1600

Example Sentences

“Yas’m, but mought be dey’s weev’ly.”

From Literature

Shakespeare even used the form "mought", and when it comes to speaking "good" English, well, he mought to know.

From The Guardian

"Well, it mought be nigh onto twelve o'clock, and you're not more'n two miles from Jimson's."

From Project Gutenberg

"I mought and then again I moughtn't."

From Project Gutenberg

"I des' said that I mought see him."

From Project Gutenberg