MAY

may,vb. 1. To be permitted to <the plaintiff may close>. [Cases: Statutes 227. C.J.S. Statutes §§ 362–369.] 2. To be a possibility <we may win on appeal>. Cf. CAN. 3. Loosely, is required to; shall; must <if two or more defendants are jointly indicted, any defendant who so requests may be tried separately>. • In dozens of cases, courts have held may to be synonymous with shall or must, usu. in an effort to effectuate legislative intent.

[Blacks Law 8th]