2 entries found for May.
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May Mays

Main Entry: May
Pronunciation: m
Function: noun
Etymology: from Middle English May (fifth month), from early French mai (same meaning), from Latin Maius, originally, "third month," from Maia "Roman goddess of spring"
: the fifth month of the year
Word History Among the gods and goddesses worshipped by the ancient Romans was one known as Maia, a goddess of spring. In spring the Romans would make offerings to her on the first day of a month they called Maius, meaning "of Maia." The name of the Roman month was borrowed into early French as mai and later into English as May. For the early Romans Maius was the third month of the year; but after January and February were added, May became the fifth month.