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mayn't

American  
[mey-uhnt, meynt] / ˈmeɪ ənt, meɪnt /
  1. contraction of may not.


mayn't British  
/ meɪnt, ˈmeɪənt /

contraction

  1. may not

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As H. R. H. passed down the line, one Geoffrey Gill, 15, piped: "Please, Sir, mayn't I have your autograph?"

From Time Magazine Archive

Discovering his wife unfaithful, Mr. Sipos says, "I mayn't have an automobile, but I have honor."

From Time Magazine Archive

I hope Uncle Pumblechook’s mare mayn’t have set a forefoot on a piece o’ ice, and gone down.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

“Why not? Or mayn’t I ask that, either?”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

She mayn’t have know’d,” added Joe, with an appearance of reflection, “whether it were Joe, or Jorge.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

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