Wiktionary

may

See also: Appendix:Variations of "may"

English

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 May (disambiguation) on Wikipedia

Pronunciation

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  • enPR: mā, IPA(key): /meɪ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪ

Etymology 1

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From Middle English mowen, mayen, moȝen, maȝen, from Old English magan, from Proto-West Germanic *magan, from Proto-Germanic *maganą, from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-.

Cognate with Dutch mag (“may”, first and third-person singular of mogen (“to be able to, be allowed to, may”)), Low German mögen, German mag (“like”, first and third-person singular of mögen (“to like, want, require”)), Swedish må, Icelandic mega, megum. See also might.

Alternative forms

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Verb

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may (third-person singular simple present may, no present participle, simple past might, no past participle)

  1. (obsolete, intransitive) To be strong; to have power (over). [8th–17th c.]
  2. (obsolete, auxiliary) To be able; can. [8th–17th c.]
    • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 6:
      But many times […] we give way to passions we may resist and will not.
  3. (intransitive, poetic) To be able to go. [from 9th c.]
  4. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests. [from 9th c.]
    Synonyms: can, could, might
    you may smoke outside;  may I sit there?
  5. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) Expressing a present possibility; possibly. [from 13th c.]
    Synonyms: could, might
    he may be lying;  Schrödinger's cat may or may not be in the box
    • 2011 October 1, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2-2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
      The result may not quite give the Wearsiders a sweet ending to what has been a sour week, following allegations of sexual assault and drug possession against defender Titus Bramble, but it does at least demonstrate that their spirit remains strong in the face of adversity.
    • 2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, page 68:
      Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.
  6. (subjunctive present, defective, chiefly poetic) Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect). [from 16th c.]
    Synonym: might
    may you win;  may the weather be sunny
    • 1974, Bob Dylan (lyrics and music), “Forever Young”, in Planet Waves:
      May God bless and keep you always / May your wishes all come true / May you always do for others / And let others do for you / May you build a ladder to the stars / And climb on every rung / May you stay forever young
    • 1984, “No More Lonely Nights”, performed by Paul McCartney:
      May I never miss the thrill of being near you
  7. Used in modesty, courtesy, or concession, or to soften a question or remark.
    • 1744 [1720], Matthew Prior, “Phillis's age”, in Joe Miller's Jests‎[1], 7th edition:
      How old may Phillis be, you ask, / Whose Beauty thus all Hearts engages.
Usage notes
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  • May is now a defective verb. It has no infinitive, no past participle, and no future tense. Forms of to be allowed to are used to replace these missing tenses.
  • The simple past (both indicative and subjunctive) of may is might.
  • The present tense is negated as may not, which can be contracted to mayn't, although this is old-fashioned; the simple past is negated as might not, which can be contracted to mightn't.
  • May has archaic second-person singular present forms mayest and mayst.
  • Usage of this word in the sense of possibly is considered incorrect by some speakers and writers, as it blurs the meaning of the word in the sense have permission to. These speakers and writers prefer to use the word might instead.
  • Conversely, since may not is particularly likely to promote confusion between the senses of "will possibly not" and "is forbidden to," some rules for the drafting of laws and regulations proscribe "may not" and require the use of "must not" or similar for clarity. Example: [2]
  • Wishes are often cast in the imperative rather than the subjunctive mood, not using the word may, as in Have a great day! rather than May you have a great day. The use of may for this purpose may lend a more formal, literary, or solemn feeling (perhaps jocularly so) to the wish. Moreover, wishes in the subjunctive need not use may if the meaning is clear without it, which is the case mainly for established expressions in the third-person singular such as God help you.
Derived terms
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Translations
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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

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Etymology 2

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From French mai, so called because it blossoms in the month of May.

Noun

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may (uncountable)

  1. The hawthorn bush or its blossoms.
Derived terms
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Translations
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Verb

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may (third-person singular simple present mays, present participle maying, simple past and past participle mayed)

  1. (poetic, intransitive) To gather may, or flowers in general.
    • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XIX, Chapter i leaf 386v:
      Soo it befelle in the moneth of May / quene Gueneuer called vnto her knyȝtes of the table round / and she gafe them warnynge that erly vpon the morowe she wold ryde on mayeng in to woodes & feldes besyde westmynstre.
      "So it befell in the month of May, Queen Guenever called unto her knights of the Table Round; and she gave them warning that early upon the morrow she would ride a-Maying into woods and fields beside Westminster."
    • 1922, A. E. Housman, Last Poems, VII, lines 1-2:
      In valleys green and still / Where lovers wander maying
  2. (poetic, intransitive) To celebrate May Day.

Etymology 3

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From Middle English may, maye (“woman, maid, girl, virgin”), from Old English mǣġ (“kinswoman”), from Proto-West Germanic *māg, from Proto-Germanic *mēgaz (“kinsman”). Related to Old English māge, mǣġe (“kinswoman”) and Old English mǣġ (“kinsman”).

Noun

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may (plural mays)

  1. (archaic) A maiden.
Derived terms
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Anagrams

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Azerbaijani

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Russian май (maj).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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may (definite accusative mayı, plural maylar)

  1. (North Azerbaijani) May
    Synonym: (South Azerbaijani) مه (mə)

Declension

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    Declension of may
singular plural
nominative may
 maylar
definite accusative mayı
 mayları
dative maya
 maylara
locative mayda
 maylarda
ablative maydan
 maylardan
definite genitive mayın
 mayların
    Possessive forms of may
nominative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) mayım maylarım
sənin (“your”) mayın mayların
onun (“his/her/its”) mayı mayları
bizim (“our”) mayımız maylarımız
sizin (“your”) mayınız maylarınız
onların (“their”) mayı or mayları mayları
accusative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) mayımı maylarımı
sənin (“your”) mayını maylarını
onun (“his/her/its”) mayını maylarını
bizim (“our”) mayımızı maylarımızı
sizin (“your”) mayınızı maylarınızı
onların (“their”) mayını or maylarını maylarını
dative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) mayıma maylarıma
sənin (“your”) mayına maylarına
onun (“his/her/its”) mayına maylarına
bizim (“our”) mayımıza maylarımıza
sizin (“your”) mayınıza maylarınıza
onların (“their”) mayına or maylarına maylarına
locative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) mayımda maylarımda
sənin (“your”) mayında maylarında
onun (“his/her/its”) mayında maylarında
bizim (“our”) mayımızda maylarımızda
sizin (“your”) mayınızda maylarınızda
onların (“their”) mayında or maylarında maylarında
ablative
singular plural
mənim (“my”) mayımdan maylarımdan
sənin (“your”) mayından maylarından
onun (“his/her/its”) mayından maylarından
bizim (“our”) mayımızdan maylarımızdan
sizin (“your”) mayınızdan maylarınızdan
onların (“their”) mayından or maylarından maylarından
genitive
singular plural
mənim (“my”) mayımın maylarımın
sənin (“your”) mayının maylarının
onun (“his/her/its”) mayının maylarının
bizim (“our”) mayımızın maylarımızın
sizin (“your”) mayınızın maylarınızın
onların (“their”) mayının or maylarının maylarının

See also

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Bikol Central

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Verb

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may

  1. there is
  2. to have

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Cebuano

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Etymology

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From Proto-Central Philippine *may (existential marker).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈmaj/ [ˈmaɪ̯]
  • Hyphenation: may

Verb

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may (Badlit spelling ᜋᜌ᜔)

  1. particle used as an existential marker: there be; there is
    Synonyms: anaa, aduna, adia, ania, atua
    Antonym: wala
    may bulawan sa ungib
    there is gold in the cave
    may dagkong mga pating sa dagat
    the big sharks are in the sea
  2. particle used as a possessive marker: to have
    may sakyanan si Maria
    Maria has a personal vehicle
  3. (after sa) near a place
    sa may pultahan ― by the door
  4. (sometimes with mga) approximately, about some time ago; at around
    may (mga) duha ka buwan na ― it has been about two months
    may (mga) alas-kuwatro ― at around four o'clock
  5. (+ adjective prefixed with pagka-) be somewhat
    may pagkatabian si Antonio ― Antonio is somewhat talkative

Usage notes

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  • In contrast to aduna and anaa, which behave as verbs and could thus take postpositive enclitics, may is a particle and is used immediately before the word modified.
    may sakyanan siya ― she has a car
    may siya sakyanan ― is ungrammatical

Derived terms

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Crimean Tatar

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Noun

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may

  1. butter, oil

Declension

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Declension of may
nominative may
genitive maynıñ
dative mayğa
accusative maynı
locative mayda
ablative maydan

Synonyms

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Kalasha

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Determiner

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may

  1. my

Pronoun

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may

  1. me

Mapudungun

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Adverb

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may (Raguileo spelling)

  1. yes

References

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  • Wixaleyiñ: Mapucezugun-wigkazugun pici hemvlcijka (Wixaleyiñ: Small Mapudungun-Spanish dictionary), Beretta, Marta; Cañumil, Dario; Cañumil, Tulio, 2008.

Northern Kurdish

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Noun

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may m

  1. intervention

Derived terms

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Pacoh

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Etymology

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From Proto-Katuic *maj, from Proto-Mon-Khmer *mi[i]ʔ.

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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may

  1. you (second person singular pronoun)

Affixed forms

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Quechua

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Adverb

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may

  1. where
  2. like, how, very

Derived terms

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See also

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Pronoun

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may

  1. (interrogative pronoun) which

Verb

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may

  1. (transitive) to fear

Conjugation

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    Conjugation of may
infinitive may
agentive maq
present participle maspa
past participle masqa
future participle mana
singular plural
1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person
inclusive 		1st person
exclusive 		2nd person 3rd person
indicative ñuqa qam pay ñuqanchik ñuqayku qamkuna paykuna
present mani manki man manchik mayku
maniku1 		mankichik manku
past
(experienced) 		marqani marqanki marqan marqanchik marqayku
marqaniku 		marqankichik marqanku
past
(reported) 		masqani masqanki masqan masqanchik masqayku
masqaniku 		masqankichik masqanku
future masaq manki manqa masunchik masaqku mankichik manqaku
imperative — qam pay ñuqanchik — qamkuna paykuna
affirmative may machun masun2
masunchik 		maychik machunku
negative ama
maychu 		ama
machunchu 		ama masunchu
ama masunchikchu 		ama
maychikchu 		ama
machunkuchu
1 The conjugation -niku is only for the Ayacucho-Chanca variety.
2 The form -sun refers to "you and I together", while the form -sunchik refers to "you and I and other people".

Tagalog

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-Central Philippine *may (existential marker). See also Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mai (“and”).

Pronunciation

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Particle

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may (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜌ᜔)

  1. particle used as an existential marker: to be; to have
    Synonyms: mayroon, meron
    Antonym: wala
    May tubig sa bahay.
    There is water in the house.
    May pagkain ako rito, sa'yo na lang.
    I have food here, have it.

Usage notes

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  • May is used immediately before the thing possessed or existing, whereas mayroon can be separated by enclitics (e.g. lang, kaya, and ako). Sentences like *may ako pagkain would be ungrammatical.

Derived terms

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See also

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Preposition

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may (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜌ᜔)

  1. used after sa: by; around; near
    Kunin mo ang araro doon sa may puno ng mangga.
    Get the shovel by the mango tree.
    (literally, “Get the shovel at the place with the mango tree.”)

Further reading

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  • “may”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018

Tat

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Etymology

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Cognate with Persian مادر (mâdar).

Noun

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may

  1. mother

Tatar

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Alternative forms

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Noun

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may

  1. May (Month of the Year)

Declension

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    declension of may
Nominative may
Genitive maynıñ
Dative mayga
Accusative maynı
Locative mayda
Ablative maydan

See also

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Uzbek

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Uzbek Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia uz

Etymology

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Borrowed from Russian май (maj), from Latin māius.

Noun

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may (plural maylar)

  1. May

Declension

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Declension of may
singular plural
nominative may maylar
genitive mayning maylarning
dative mayga maylarga
definite accusative mayni maylarni
locative mayda maylarda
ablative maydan maylardan
similative maydek maylardek
Possessive forms of may
my singular plural
nominative mayim maylarim
genitive mayimning maylarimning
dative mayimga maylarimga
definite accusative mayimni maylarimni
locative mayimda maylarimda
ablative mayimdan maylarimdan
similative mayimdek maylarimdek
your singular plural
nominative maying maylaring
genitive mayingning maylaringning
dative mayingga maylaringga
definite accusative mayingni maylaringni
locative mayingda maylaringda
ablative mayingdan maylaringdan
similative mayingdek maylaringdek
her/his/its singular plural
nominative mayi maylari
genitive mayining maylarining
dative mayiga maylariga
definite accusative mayini maylarini
locative mayida maylarida
ablative mayidan maylaridan
similative mayidek maylaridek
our singular plural
nominative mayimiz maylarimiz
genitive mayimizning maylarimizning
dative mayimizga maylarimizga
definite accusative mayimizni maylarimizni
locative mayimizda maylarimizda
ablative mayimizdan maylarimizdan
similative mayimizdek maylarimizdek
your singular plural
nominative mayingiz maylaringiz
genitive mayingizning maylaringizning
dative mayingizga maylaringizga
definite accusative mayingizni maylaringizni
locative mayingizda maylaringizda
ablative mayingizdan maylaringizdan
similative mayingizdek maylaringizdek
their singular plural
nominative mayi maylari
genitive mayining maylarining
dative mayiga maylariga
definite accusative mayini maylarini
locative mayida maylarida
ablative mayidan maylaridan similative mayidek maylaridek
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Vietnamese

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Cognate with Muong băl.

Verb

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may • (𦁼, 埋, 枚)

  1. to sew
Derived terms
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Derived terms

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Etymology 2

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Adjective

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may • (𢆧, 埋, 𱜿, 𱝁, 枚, 𠶣)

  1. lucky
    Synonym: hên
Derived terms
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Derived terms

Etymology 3

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Noun

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may • (埋, 枚)

  1. (now rarely in isolation) a cold breeze
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Derived terms

Walloon

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Walloon Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia wa

Etymology

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From Old French mai, from Latin Māius.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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may

  1. May (month)

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