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.”

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

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

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

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

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