Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MAW'MET-RY, n.

The religion of Mohammed; also, idolatry. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MAW'MISH, a. [from maw, or mawmet.]

Foolish; silly; nauseous. L'Estrange.

MAW'WORM, n.

A worm that infests the stomach. Harvey.

MAX'IL-LAR, or MAX'IL-LA-RY, a. [L. maxillaris, from maxilla, the jawbone; probably from the root of mash.]

Pertaining to the jaw; as, the maxillary bones or glands.

MAX-IL-LI-FORM, a.

In the form of a cheek bone.

MAX'IM, a. [Fr. maxime, It. massima, L. maximum, literally the greatest.]

1. An established principle or proposition; a principle generally received or admitted as true. It is nearly the same in popular usage, as axiom in philosophy and mathematics. It is a maxim of state, that countries newly acquired and not settled, are matters of burden, rather than of strength. Bacon. It is their maxim, love is love's reward. Dryden.
2. In music, the longest note formerly used, equal to two longs, or four breves. Busby.

MAX'IM-MON-GER, n.

One who deals much in maxims. Chesterfield.

MAX'IM-UM, n. [L.]

In mathematics, the greatest number or quantity attainable in any given case; opposed to minimum.

MAY, n. [L. Maius; Fr. Mai; It. Maggio; Sp. Mayo.]

1. The fifth month of the year, beginning with January, but the third beginning with March, as was the ancient practice of the Romans.
2. [Goth. mawi. See Maid.] A young woman. [Obs.]
3. The early part of life. His May of youth and bloom of lustihood. Shak.

MAY, v. [verb aux.; pret. Might. (Sax. magan, to be strong or able, to avail; D. meijen or moogen; G. mögen; Russ. mogu. The old pret. mought is obsolete, but not wholly extinct from our common people. The sense is to strain or press.]

1. To be possible. We say, a thing may be, or may not be; an event may happen; a thing may be done, if means are not wanting.
2. To have physical power; to be able. Make the most of life you may. Bourne.
3. To have moral power; to have liberty, leave, license, or permission; to be permitted; to be allowed. A man may do what the laws permit. He may do what is not against decency, propriety or good manners. We may not violate the laws, or the rules of good breeding. I told the servant he might be absent. Thou mayest be no longer steward. Luke xvi.
4. It is used in prayer and petitions to express desire. O may we never experience the evils we dread. So also in expressions of good will. May you live happily, and be a blessing to your country. It was formerly used for can, and its radical sense is the same. May be, it may be, are expressions equivalent to perhaps, by chance, peradventure, that is, it is possible to be.

MAY, v.i.

To gather flowers in May-morning. Sidney.

MAY-AP-PLE, n.

The fruit of the plant Podophyllum peltatum.

MAY-BLOOM, n.

The hawthorn.

MAY-BUG, n.

A chaffer. Ainsworth.

MAY-BUSH, n.

A plant of the genus Cratægus.

MAY-DAY, n.

The first day of May.

MAY-DEW, n.

The dew of May, which is said to whiten linen, and to afford by repeated distillations, a red and odoriferous spirit. It has been supposed that from the preparation of this dew the Rosicrucians took their name. Encyc.

MAY-DUKE, n.

A variety of the common cherry.

MAY-FLOW-ER, n.

A plant; a flower that appears in May. Bacon.

MAY-FLY, n.

An insect or fly that appears in May. Walton.

MAY-GAME, n.

Sport or diversion; play, such as is used on the first of May. Dryden.

MAY'HEM, n. [See MAIM.]

MAY-ING, n.

The gathering of flowers on May-day.

MAY-LA-DY, n.

The queen or lady of May, in old Maygames. Dryden.

MAY-LI-LY, n.

The lily of the valley, Convallaria Majalis.