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May
Definition
May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It is named after Maia, the Roman goddess of growth and fertility. May is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
May is a month of flowers and growing plants. Many flowers bloom in May, such as roses, lilies, and tulips. May is also a time for planting new crops.
May is a month of festivals and celebrations. In the United States, May is the month of Mother's Day and Cinco de Mayo. In the United Kingdom, May is the month of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
How can the word be used?
It may rain tomorrow.
Different forms of the word
Noun:
- Mayday, an international distress signal.
Etymology
The word "may" comes from the Old English word "mæg", which means "might".
The word "may" was first used in English in the 8th century. It was originally used as a modal verb, meaning "might" or "could", but it soon came to be used in a more general sense to mean "possible" or "permissible".
Question
What months come before and after May?