might
1
[ mahyt ]
/ maɪt /
auxiliary verb
simple past tense of may1.
(used to express possibility): They might be at the station.
(used to express advisability): You might at least thank me.
(used in polite requests for permission): Might I speak to you for a moment?
Words nearby might
miffy,
mifune,
mig,
mig welding,
miggle,
might,
might and main, with,
might makes right,
mightily,
mightn't,
mighty
Definition for might (2 of 3)
might
2
[ mahyt ]
/ maɪt /
noun
physical strength: He swung with all his might.
superior power or strength; force: the theory that might makes right.
power or ability to do or accomplish; capacity: the might of the ballot box.
Origin of might
2
before 900; Middle English
myghte, Old English
miht, meaht; cognate with German
macht, Gothic
mahts; akin to
may1
synonym study for might
1–3. See
strength.
OTHER WORDS FROM might
might·less, adjectiveDefinition for might (3 of 3)
may
1
[ mey ]
/ meɪ /
auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person may, 2nd may or (Archaic) may·est or mayst, 3rd may; present plural may; past might.
(used to express possibility): It may rain.
(used to express opportunity or permission): You may enter.
(used to express contingency, especially in clauses indicating condition, concession, purpose, result, etc.): I may be wrong but I think you would be wise to go. Times may change but human nature stays the same.
(used to express wish or prayer): May you live to an old age.
Archaic.
(used to express ability or power.)
Compare
might1.
Origin of may
1
before 900; Middle English
mai 1st and 3rd person singular present indicative of
mouen, Old English
mæg (infinitive
magan); cognate with German
mögen
usage note for may
See
can1.
British Dictionary definitions for might (1 of 7)
might
1
/ (maɪt) /
verb
making the past tense or subjunctive mood of may 1 he might have come last night
(often foll by well)
expressing theoretical possibility: he might well come . In this sense might looks to the future and functions as a weak form of may
See may 1 (def. 2)
Word Origin for might
OE
miht
undefined might
See
may 1
British Dictionary definitions for might (2 of 7)
might
2
/ (maɪt) /
noun
power, force, or vigour, esp of a great or supreme kind
physical strength
(with) might and main See main 1 (def. 8)
Word Origin for might
Old English
miht; compare Old High German
maht, Dutch
macht
British Dictionary definitions for might (3 of 7)
May
1
/ (meɪ) /
noun
the fifth month of the year, consisting of 31 days
Word Origin for May
from Old French, from Latin
Maius, probably from
Maia, Roman goddess, identified with the Greek goddess
Maia
British Dictionary definitions for might (4 of 7)
May
2
/ (meɪ) /
noun
Robert McCredie, Baron. born 1936, Australian biologist and ecologist
British Dictionary definitions for might (5 of 7)
may
1
/ (meɪ) /
verb past might (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive used as an auxiliary)
Word Origin for may
Old English
mæg, from
magan: compare Old High German
mag, Old Norse
mā
usage for may
It was formerly considered correct to use
may rather than
can when referring to permission as in:
you may use the laboratory for your experiments, but this use of
may is now almost entirely restricted to polite questions such as:
may I open the window? The use of
may with
if in constructions such as:
your analysis may have been more more credible if … is generally regarded as incorrect,
might being preferred:
your analysis might have been more credible if …
British Dictionary definitions for might (6 of 7)
Word Origin for may
Old English
mæg; related to Old High German
māg kinsman, Old Norse
māgr a relative by marriage
British Dictionary definitions for might (7 of 7)
Word Origin for may
C16: from the month of
May, when it flowers
Idioms and Phrases with might
may
see be that as it may; come what may; let the chips fall where they may; to whom it may concern.