might1
- simple past tense of may1.
- (used to express possibility): They might be at the station.
- (used to express advisability): You might at least thank me.
- (used in polite requests for permission): Might I speak to you for a moment?
might2
- physical strength: He swung with all his might.
- superior power or strength; force: the theory that might makes right.
- power or ability to do or accomplish; capacity: the might of the ballot box.
- with might and main, with all the vigor, force, or energy at one's command: They pulled with might and main.
Origin of might2
Synonym study
Antonyms
may1
- (used to express possibility): It may rain.
- (used to express opportunity or permission): You may enter.
- (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.
- (used to express wish or prayer): May you live to an old age.
- Archaic. (used to express ability or power.)
Origin of may1
Usage note
might1
- making the past tense or subjunctive mood of may 1 he might have come last night
- (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)
Word Origin
xref
might2
- power, force, or vigour, esp of a great or supreme kind
- physical strength
- (with) might and main See main 1 (def. 8)
Word Origin
May1
- the fifth month of the year, consisting of 31 days
Word Origin
May2
- Robert McCredie, Baron. born 1936, Australian biologist and ecologist
may1
- to indicate that permission is requested by or granted to someonehe may go to the park tomorrow if he behaves himself
- (often foll by well) to indicate possibilitythe rope may break; he may well be a spy
- to indicate ability or capacity, esp in questionsmay I help you?
- to express a strong wishlong may she reign
- to indicate result or purpose: used only in clauses introduced by that or so thathe writes so that the average reader may understand
- another word for might 1
- to express courtesy in a questionwhose child may this little girl be?
- 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
- come what may whatever happens
- that's as may be (foll by a clause introduced by but) that may be so
Word Origin
usage
may2
- an archaic word for maiden
Word Origin
may3
- Also: may tree a Brit name for hawthorn
- short for may blossom
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for might
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.)).
may
v.1
Old 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."
May
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.
may
v.2
"to take part in May Day festivities," late 15c., from May. Related: Mayed; maying.