Mayn't

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmeɪənt/
• Hyphenation: may + n't

Origin

may + -n't

Full definition of mayn't

Verb

1. (colloquial, now rare, dated) may not (negative auxiliaryArnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, Cliticization vs. Inflection: English n’t, Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513)
• 1841 — Charles Dickens, , ch 40I mayn't have much head, master, but I’ve head enough to remember those that use me ill.
• 1861 — George Eliot, , ch 17"Now, father," said Nancy, "is there any call for you to go home to tea? Mayn't you just as well stay with us?--such a beautiful evening as it's likely to be."
• 1897 — Lewis Carroll, , ch 9"Yes, we went to school in the sea, though you mayn't believe it——"
• 1914 — Saki, You mayn't hardly believe it, but at the present moment I am absolutely without a farthing.
• 1930 — H. P. Lovecraft, I can't help about other people. But I surely would like to have a spot to stop till daylight. Still - if people don't relish this place, mayn't it be because it's getting so run-down?

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