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mightmore about might

might


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Might  \Might\, 
  imp.  of  {May}.  [AS.  meahte,  mihte.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Might  \Might\,  n.  [AS.  meaht,  miht,  from  the  root  of  magan  to  be 
  able,  E.  may  akin  to  D.  magt,  OS  maht,  G.  macht,  Icel. 
  m[=a]ttr,  Goth.  mahts.  ????.  See  {May},  v.] 
  Force  or  power  of  any  kind  whether  of  body  or  mind;  energy 
  or  intensity  of  purpose,  feeling,  or  action  means  or 
  resources  to  effect  an  object;  strength;  force;  power; 
  ability;  capacity. 
 
  What  so  strong,  But  wanting  rest,  will  also  want  of 
  might?  --Spenser. 
 
  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart, 
  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  might  --Deut. 
  vi  5. 
 
  {With  might  and  main}.  See  under  2d  {Main}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  May  \May\,  v.  [imp.  {Might}]  [AS.  pres.  m[ae]g  I  am  able,  pret. 
  meahte,  mihte;  akin  to  D.  mogen,  G.  m["o]gen,  OHG.  mugan, 
  magan,  Icel.  mega,  Goth.  magan,  Russ.  moche.  ?.  Cf  {Dismay}, 
  {Main}  strength,  {Might}.  The  old  imp.  mought  is  obsolete, 
  except  as  a  provincial  word.] 
  An  auxiliary  verb  qualifyng  the  meaning  of  another  verb  by 
  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  or  pen  The  saddest 
  are  these:  ``It  might  have  been.''  --Whittier. 
  b  Liberty;  permission;  allowance. 
 
  Thou  mayst  be  no  longer  steward.  --Luke  xvi.  2. 
  c  Contingency  or  liability;  possibility  or  probability. 
 
  Though  what  he  learns  he  speaks,  and  may  advance 
  Some  general  maxims,  or  be  right  by  chance.  --Pope. 
  d  Modesty,  courtesy,  or  concession,  or  a  desire  to  soften  a 
  question  or  remark. 
 
  How  old  may  Phillis  be  you  ask  --Prior. 
  e  Desire  or  wish,  as  in  prayer,  imprecation,  benediction, 
  and  the  like  ``May  you  live  happily.''  --Dryden. 
 
  {May  be},  &  {It  may  be},  are  used  as  equivalent  to  possibly, 
  perhaps,  by  chance,  peradventure.  See  1st  {Maybe}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  might 
  n  :  physical  strength  [syn:  {mightiness},  {power}] 
  v  1:  expresses  permission;  "You  may  leave  now";  "Can  I  have 
  another  piece  of  cake?"  [syn:  {can},  {may}] 
  2:  expresses  possibility;  "I  could  do  it  by  myself"  [syn:  {could}] 




more about might