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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)

98,828 entries. Headwords are matched first, then definition text.

1,776 words match “MAY”

MAY v. 10 definitions

expressing: (a) Ability, competency, or possibility; -- now oftener expressed by can. How may a man, said he, with idle speech, Be won to spoil the castle of his health ! Spenser. For what he [the king] may do is of two kinds; what he may do as just, and what he may do as possible. Bacon. For of all sad words of tongue…

MAY LAWS n. 2 definitions

asion for great persecution; -- so called because they received the assent of the czar in May, 1882, and because likened to the Prussian May laws (see Kulturkampf).

The name for the doctrine of the unreality of matter, called, in English, idealism; hence, nothingness; vanity; illusion.

MAYAN a. 2 definitions

sco, Campeche, and Yucatan, together with a part of Guatemala and a part of Salvador. The Mayan peoples are dark, short, and brachycephallic, and at the time of the discovery had attained a higher grade of culture than any other American people. They cultivated a variety of crops, were expert in the manufacture and dye…

MAYAN ARCH; MAYA ARCH n.

A form of corbel arch employing regular small corbels.

MAYBE adv. 3 definitions

Perhaps; possibly; peradventure. Maybe the amorous count solicits her. Shak. In a liberal and, maybe, somewhat reckless way. Tylor.

MAYBIRD n. 3 definitions

The whimbrel; -- called also May fowl, May curlew, and May whaap.

A large dark-red cherry of excellent quality.

A common American minnow (Fundulus majalis). See Minnow.

In England, the hawthorn; in New England, the trailing arbutus (see Arbutus); also, the blossom of these plants.

Perhaps; peradventure. [Prov. or Dialectic]

The maiming of a person by depriving him of the use of any of his members which are necessary for defense or protection. See Maim.

The celebrating of May Day. "He met her once a-Maying." Milton.

A sauce compounded of raw yolks of eggs beaten up with olive oil to the consistency of a sirup, and seasoned with vinegar, pepper, salt, etc.; -- used in dressing salads, fish, etc. Also, a dish dressed with this sauce.

The chief magistrate of a city or borough; the chief officer of a municipal corporation. In some American cities there is a city court of which the major is chief judge.

The conductir of a mule team; also, a head shepherd.

The office, or the term of office, of a mayor.

The wife of a mayor.