“may” in Latin

(the month of)(the month of), Maius (mensis).

(perfect MIGHT)(perfect MIGHT); (α) of permission: licet (it is permitted, or lawful by human law, positive, customary, or traditional): fas est (with supine in u or infinitive, it is permitted by divine law, including the law of conscience: opposed to nefas est): concessum est (general term, including both the former): jus or potestatem habere aliquid faciendi: integra mihi est potostas aliquid faciendi (a thing is still open to me; Vid: Cic., Acad., 2, 3, 8): integrum or liberum est mihi (with infinitive, it is free or open for me to do anything in the last two permission and possibility are, or may be, combined). ☞ (1) When licet is followed by “to be” with an adjective as predicate, the adjective, is usually in the dative by attraction; but sometimes in the accusative, even when dative is expressed; e.g., licuit esse otioso Themistocli; civi Romano licet esse Gaditanum. Zumpt, 601, Pr. Intr., 152. (2) After “might” the English perfect infinitive is translated by the Latin present infinitive, unless the action marked by the infinitive must have preceded that marked by licuit, etc. (3) Remember that “he might” is, in a principal sentence, the indicative: “he might have been,” licuit esse. ☞ “May,” “might” of permission, are also frequently translated by posse (the speaker implying that permission would be granted if it could). May I know..? possum scire (= will you not tell me? e.g., aliquo profectus veneris, Plaut.). She may say this, hoc fas est dicere: if I may say so, si fas est dictu (Cic.): if I may, si per vos licet (if you will permit me). May I? licetne? If one might, si integrum ac liberum esset. You may for anything I care, per me licet: may I ask? licet rogare? (Cic.): that they may themselves sin the more easily, quo facilius ipsos peccare liceat: (β) of possibility: posse: licet or licet mihi (of the possibility or impossibility that proceeds from the state of things, the absence or presence of opponents or opposing causes; the preventive person or cause with per and accusative). (The words are found in this connection and order.) possum et mihi licet. [Vid: CAN.] That was the first year in which he might (= could be) elected consul, is erat annus, quo per leges ei consulem fieri liceret: if she might have lived in freedom, si ei libere vixisse licitum fuisset: live happily whilst you may (can), dum licet, vive beatus (Hor.): to do anything as one best may, aliquid ut potest, facere (e.g., nos dignitatem, ut potest, retinebimus, Cic.): as you best may, ut poteris (e.g., rem expedias, Cic.). ☞ The notion of “might” is sometimes given by the subjunctive of a verb: he explained it so clearly that all might understand it, rem tam perspicue explicuit, ut omnes intelligerent. ☞ The remark on the tense of the infinitive holds good for potuit, etc., as well as for licuit; (γ) of contingent possibility (or possibility granted by the speaker = “may possibly,” “may, for anything I know”), fieri potest ut (with subjunctive; e.g., I may be mistaken, fieri potest, ut fallar): sometimes potest (impersonal = “it may be that”) only (e.g., he may, perhaps, not have incurred that penalty, or fine, potest, ut illam mulctam non commiserit, Cic.). Sometimes credibile est, veri haud dissimile est: factum esse potest, etc. Perhaps someone may say, forsitan quispiam dixerit or dixerit aliquis. When “you” is used indefinitely for “anyone,” “a man,” the second personimperfect is employed; e.g., you might have believed, thought, said, crederes, putares, diceres.