MAYEST Meaning and
Definition
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"Mayest" is an archaic second-person singular form of the verb "may," primarily used in Middle English and early Modern English. The term is a contraction of "may" and the suffix "-est," which was commonly added to verbs in the second-person singular form during this period.
The word "may" in this context refers to the expression of probability or possibility. As a modal verb, "may" indicates permission, likelihood, or potential for action. When "mayest" is used, it signifies the potential or permissibility of a specific action by the person being addressed.
For instance, if someone were to say, "Thou mayest join us for dinner," this would mean that the person being spoken to is allowed or has the potential to attend the meal. In this sentence, "mayest" indicates permission.
In addition to this meaning, "mayest" can also convey uncertainty or supplication. It can be found in various literary works and poetry, where it is employed to address individuals or deities in a reverent and pleading manner.
However, it is important to note that "mayest" is considered antiquated and is rarely used in contemporary English. Today, the more common terms in usage are "may" for permission or likelihood, or its contracted form "may well" for expressing probability.
Etymology of MAYEST
The word "mayest" is an archaic form of the present tense second person singular verb "may" in English. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old English word "mæg", which meant "am able to" or "have power to". This Old English word eventually developed into the Middle English term "mayen" or "mowen", which were used to express permission or possibility. Over time, this verb form evolved further, and by the Late Middle English period, the form "mayest" had emerged as the second person singular form of "may". However, this form is no longer commonly used in modern English, and the word "may" is now used for both first and second person present tense forms.
Conjugate verb Mayest
CONDITIONAL
I
would mayest
you
would mayest
he/she/it
would mayest
we
would mayest
they
would mayest
CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS
I
would be mayesting
you
would be mayesting
he/she/it
would be mayesting
we
would be mayesting
they
would be mayesting
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have mayest
you
would have mayest
he/she/it
would have mayest
we
would have mayest
they
would have mayest
CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
would have been mayesting
you
would have been mayesting
he/she/it
would have been mayesting
we
would have been mayesting
they
would have been mayesting
FUTURE
I
will mayest
you
will mayest
he/she/it
will mayest
we
will mayest
they
will mayest
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be mayesting
you
will be mayesting
he/she/it
will be mayesting
we
will be mayesting
they
will be mayesting
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have mayested
you
will have mayested
he/she/it
will have mayested
we
will have mayested
they
will have mayested
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been mayesting
you
will have been mayesting
he/she/it
will have been mayesting
we
will have been mayesting
they
will have been mayesting
IMPERATIVE
you
mayest
we
let´s mayest
to mayest
PAST
I
mayested
you
mayested
he/she/it
mayested
we
mayested
they
mayested
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was mayesting
you
were mayesting
he/she/it
was mayesting
we
were mayesting
they
were mayesting
PAST PARTICIPLE
mayested
PAST PERFECT
I
had mayested
you
had mayested
he/she/it
had mayested
we
had mayested
they
had mayested
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been mayesting
you
had been mayesting
he/she/it
had been mayesting
we
had been mayesting
they
had been mayesting
PRESENT
I
mayest
you
mayest
he/she/it
mayests
we
mayest
they
mayest
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am mayesting
you
are mayesting
he/she/it
is mayesting
we
are mayesting
they
are mayesting
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
mayesting
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have mayested
you
have mayested
he/she/it
has mayested
we
have mayested
they
have mayested
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been mayesting
you
have been mayesting
he/she/it
has been mayesting
we
have been mayesting
they
have been mayesting
