word-vault
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A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.
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{
"term": "may",
"partOfSpeech": "modal verb",
"ox3000": true,
"cefr": "a2",
"verbForms": {
"presentSimple": {
"iYouWeThey": "",
"heSheIt": ""
},
"pastSimple": "might",
"pastParticiple": "",
"ingForm": ""
},
"definitions": [
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "used to say that something is possible",
"cefr": "a2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "That may or may not be true."
},
{
"text": "He may have *(= perhaps he has)* missed his train."
},
{
"text": "They **may well** win."
},
{
"text": "There is a range of programs on the market which may be described as design aids."
}
],
"topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "used to ask for or give permission",
"labels": "(formal)",
"cefr": "b1",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "May I come in?"
},
{
"text": "You may come in if you wish."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "used when admitting that something is true before introducing another point, argument, etc.",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "They may be well-meaning, but they are wrong."
}
],
"topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
},
{
"senseNumber": 4,
"definition": "used as a polite way of making a comment, asking a question, etc.",
"labels": "(formal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "You look lovely, if I may say so."
},
{
"text": "May I ask why you took that decision?"
},
{
"text": "If I may just add one thing…"
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 5,
"definition": "used to express wishes and hopes",
"labels": "(formal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "May she rest in peace."
},
{
"text": "Business has been thriving in the past year. **Long may it continue** to do so."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 6,
"definition": "used to say what the purpose of something is",
"labels": "(formal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "There is a need for more resources so that all children may have a decent education."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": null,
"definition": "despite that",
"labels": "(formal)",
"examples": [
{
"text": "I know that he has tried hard; be that as it may, his work is just not good enough."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "used to say that something seems the best thing to do in the situation that you are in, although you may not really want to do it",
"examples": [
{
"text": "If no one else wants it, we might as well give it to him."
}
]
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "used to say that there is no real difference between two things that you might do",
"examples": [
{
"text": "If you are going to have sugar, you may as well have a bar of chocolate."
}
]
}
],
"pronunciations": {
"uk": [
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪ/",
"audio": "ma/may/may_1_gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈmeɪ nɒt/",
"audio": "ma/may/may_not_1_gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈmeɪənt/",
"audio": "ma/may/mayn_t_1_gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/maɪt/",
"audio": "mi/may/might__gb_2.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈmaɪt nɒt/",
"audio": "mi/may/might_not_1_gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈmaɪtnt/",
"audio": "mi/may/mightn_t_1_gb_1.mp3"
}
],
"us": [
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪ/",
"audio": "ma/may/may__us_2.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈmeɪ nɑːt/",
"audio": "ma/may/may_not_1_us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈmeɪənt/",
"audio": "ma/may/mayn_t_1_us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/maɪt/",
"audio": "mi/may/might__us_2.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈmaɪt nɑːt/",
"audio": "mi/may/might_not_1_us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/ˈmaɪtnt/",
"audio": "mi/may/mightn_t_1_us_1.mp3"
}
]
},
"wordOrigin": null
}