may: English has basically two words may, although one of them has now virtually split into two. The auxiliary verb may [OE] goes back ultimately to the Indo-European base *mogh-, *megh-, denoting ‘power, ability’, which also produced English machine, main, and might. Its Germanic descendant *magan lies behind German and Dutch mag, Swedish må, and Danish maa as well as English may.
The compound maybe dates from the 15th century, and dismay is also related. May the month-name [13] comes via Old French mai from Latin Maius. This was originally an adjective meaning ‘of Maia’, Maia being a Roman goddess and wife of Vulcan (her name may go back to the same source as Latin magnus ‘large’, and hence denote ‘growth’ or ‘increase’).
In the month of May the hawthorn comes into flower, and so in the 16th century the tree received the name may. => dismay, machine, main, might
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" (cognates: 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.
雙語例句
1. They may headhunt her for the vacant position of Executive Producer.
他們可能會挖她去填補執行製片人這一空缺職位。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The agreement has raised hopes that the war may end soon.
那項協議使人們感到戰爭有望很快結束。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Sightseers may be a little overwhelmed by the crowds and noise.
擁擠的人群和喧鬧的噪音可能會讓遊客有些茫然不知所措。
來自柯林斯例句
4. If these drugs are stopped abruptly then some withdrawal symptoms may occur.
如果突然停服這些藥，則可能出現一些戒斷症狀。
來自柯林斯例句
5. A dentist may decide to extract the tooth to prevent recurrent trouble.