Max*il"li*form (?), a. [Maxilla + -form: cf. F. maxilliforme.] Having
the form, or structure, of a maxilla.
Max*il"li*ped (?), n. [Maxilla + L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.) One of
the mouth appendages of Crustacea, situated next behind the maxillæ.
Crabs have three pairs, but many of the lower Crustacea have but one
pair of them. Called also jawfoot, and foot jaw.
Max*il`lo-man*dib"u*lar (?), a. [Maxilla + mandibular.] (Anat.)
Pertaining to the maxilla and mandible; as, the maxillo-mandibular
nerve.
Max*il`lo-pal"a*tine (?), a. [Maxilla + palatine.] (Anat.) Pertaining
to the maxillary and palatine regions of the skull; as, the maxillo-
palatine process of the maxilla. Also used as n.
Max*il`lo*tur`bi*nal (?), a. [Maxilla + turbinal.] (Anat.) Pertaining
to the maxillary and turbinal regions of the skull. -- n. The
maxillo-turbinal, or inferior turbinate, bone.
Max"im (?), n. [F. maxime, L. maxima (sc. sententia), the greatest
sentence, proposition, or axiom, i. e., of the greatest weight or
authority, fem. fr. maximus greatest, superl. of magnus great. See
Magnitude, and cf. Maximum.]
1. An established principle or proposition; a condensed proposition of
important practical truth; an axiom of practical wisdom; an adage; a
proverb; an aphorism.
'T is their maxim, Love is love's reward.
Dryden.
2. (Mus.) The longest note formerly used, equal to two longs, or four
breves; a large.
Syn. -- Axiom; aphorism; apothegm; adage; proverb; saying. See Axiom.
Max`i*mil"ian (?), n. [From the proper name.] A gold coin of Bavaria,
of the value of about 13s. 6d. sterling, or about three dollars and a
quarter.
Max`i*mi*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of increasing to the
highest degree. Bentham.
Max"i*mize (?), v. t. [L. maximus greatest.] To increase to the highest
degree. Bentham.
Max"i*mum (?), n.; pl. Maxima (#). [L., neut. from maximus the
greatest. See Maxim.] The greatest quantity or value attainable in a
given case; or, the greatest value attained by a quantity which first
increases and then begins to decrease; the highest point or degree; --
opposed to minimum.
Good legislation is the art of conducting a nation to the maximum
of happiness, and the minimum of misery.
P. Colquhoun.
Maximum thermometer, a thermometer that registers the highest degree of
temperature attained in a given time, or since its last adjustment.
Max"i*mum, a. Greatest in quantity or highest in degree attainable or
attained; as, a maximum consumption of fuel; maximum pressure; maximum
heat.
May (m), v. [imp. Might (mt)] [AS. pres. mæg I am able, pret. meahte,
mihte; akin to D. mogen, G. mögen, OHG. mugan, magan, Icel. mega, Goth.
magan, Russ. moche. √103. Cf. Dismay, Main strength, Might. The
old imp. mought is obsolete, except as a provincial word.] An auxiliary
verb qualifying the meaning of another verb, by expressing: (a)
Ability, competency, or possibility; -- now oftener expressed by can.
How may a man, said he, with idle speech, Be won to spoil the
castle of his health !
Spenser.
For what he [the king] may do is of two kinds; what he may do as
just, and what he may do as possible.
Bacon.
For of all sad words of tongue or pen The saddest are these: "It
might have been."
Whittier.
(b) Liberty; permission; allowance.
Thou mayst be no longer steward.
Luke xvi. 2.
(c) Contingency or liability; possibility or probability.
Though what he learns he speaks, and may advance Some general
maxims, or be right by chance.
Pope.
(d) Modesty, courtesy, or concession, or a desire to soften a question
or remark.
How old may Phillis be, you ask.
Prior.
(e) Desire or wish, as in prayer, imprecation, benediction, and the
like. "May you live happily." Dryden.
May be, ∧ It may be, are used as equivalent to possibly, perhaps,
by chance, peradventure. See 1st Maybe.
May, n. [Cf. Icel. mær, Goth. mawi; akin to E. maiden. √103.] A
maiden. [Obs.] Chaucer.
May, n. [F. Mai, L. Maius; so named in honor of the goddess Maia (Gr.
&?;), daughter of Atlas and mother of Mercury by Jupiter.] 1. The fifth
month of the year, containing thirty-one days. Chaucer.