Webster's Dictionary 1913

1729

May (2)

May, n. [Cf. Icel. mær, Goth. mawi; akin to E. maiden. √103.] A maiden. Chaucer.

1730

May (3)

May, n. [F. Mai, L. Maius; so named in honor of the goddess Maia (Gr. �), daughter of Atlas and mother of Mercury by Jupiter.] 1. The fifth month of the year, containing thirty-...

1731

May laws

May laws. 1. See Kulturkampf, above.2. In Russia, severe oppressive laws against Jews, which have given occasion for great persecution; — so called because they received the ass...

1732

Maya

‖Ma″ya (mä″yä), n.(Hindoo Philos.) The name for the doctrine of the unreality of matter, called, in English, idealism; hence, nothingness; vanity; illusion.

1733

Mayan

Ma″yan (?), a. 1. Designating, or pertaining to, an American Indian linguistic stock occupying the Mexican States of Veracruz, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatan, together ...

1734

Mayan arch

{ Mayan arch, orMaya arch }. A form of corbel arch employing regular small corbels.

1735

Maybe

May″be (?), adv. [For it may be.] Perhaps; possibly; peradventure.Maybe the amorous count solicits her. Shak.In a liberal and, maybe, somewhat reckless way. Tylor.

1736

Maybe (2)

May″be, a. Possible; probable, but not sure.Then add those maybe years thou hast to live. Driden.

1737

Maybe (3)

May″be, n. Possibility; uncertainty.What they offer is mere maybe and shift. Creech.

1738

Maybird

May″bird′ (?), n.(Zoöl.) (a) The whimbrel; — called also May fowl, May curlew, and May whaap. (b) The knot. (c) The bobolink.

1739

Maybloom

May″bloom′ (?), n.(Bot.) The hawthorn.

1740

Maybush

May″bush′ (?), n.(Bot.) The hawthorn.

1741

Mayduke

May″duke′ (?), n. [Corrupt. of Médoc, a province in France, where it is supposed to have originated.] A large dark-red cherry of excellent quality.

1742

Mayfish

May″fish′ (?), n.(Zoöl.) A common American minnow (Fundulus majalis). See Minnow.

1743

Mayflower

May″flow′er (?), n.(Bot.) In England, the hawthorn; in New England, the trailing arbutus (see Arbutus); also, the blossom of these plants.

1744

Mayhap

May″hap (?), adv. Perhaps; peradventure.

1745

Mayhem

May″hem (?), n. [The same as maim. See Maim.] (Law) The maiming of a person by depriving him of the use of any of his members which are necessary for defense or protection. See ...

1746

Maying

May″ing (?), n. The celebrating of May Day. “He met her once a-Maying.” Milton.

1747

Mayonnaise

Ma′yon′naise″ (?), n. 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 dr...

1748

Mayor

May″or (?), n. [OE. maire, F. maire, fr. L. major greater, higher, nobler, compar. of magnus great; cf. Sp. mayor. See Major, and cf. Merino.] The chief magistrate of a city or ...

1749

Mayoral

‖May″or‐al (?), n. [Sp., fr. mayor greater, L. major.] The conductor of a mule team; also, a head shepherd.

1750

Mayoralty

May″or‐al‐ty (?), n. The office, or the term of office, of a mayor.

1751

Mayoress

May″or‐ess (?), n. The wife of a mayor.

1752

Mayorship

May″or‐ship, n. The office of a mayor.

1753

Maypole

May″pole′ (?), n. A tall pole erected in an open place and wreathed with flowers, about which the rustic May-day sports were had.

1754

Maypop

May″pop (?), n. [Perh. corrupt. fr. maracock.] (Bot.) The edible fruit of a passion flower, especially that of the North American Passiflora incarnata, an oval yellowish berry a...

1755

Mayweed

May″weed′ (?), n.(Bot.) (a) A composite plant (Anthemis Cotula), having a strong odor; dog's fennel. It is a native of Europe, now common by the roadsides in the United States. ...