may

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may1 pt. might † be strong; † be able; be allowed; as an aux. of the subjunctive. Gmc. preterite-present vb. (cf. CAN2). OE. mæġ, corr. to OS. (Du.), (O)HG. mag, ON. má, Goth. mag. The primary sense was ‘have power’ (cf. the cogn. sbs. MAIN1, MIGHT); the IE. base *mogh- *mḗgh-, is repr. also by Gr. mēkhanḗ MACHINE, OSl. mogǫ I can.
Hence may be XV.

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