maybe English · revision 2014

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=before 1400 (Cursor Mundi)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmeɪ.bi/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English [[m|enm|may be]], a shortening of the phrase it may be (that),^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) from [[may]] and [[be]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) It corresponds to the archaic [[mayhap]], from it may hap “it may happen”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Perhaps, possibly”: before 1400, in a version of ''Cursor Mundi'';^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED) Etymonline gives the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was still sometimes written as two words in the early 19th century.^(Etymonline) The noun, “something that may be or happen”, is dated to the 1580s by Etymonline^(Etymonline) and to 1598 by the HTOED,^(HTOED) and the Shorter Oxford now calls it rare.^(SOED 2002) An adjective meaning “possible” is recorded from 1687.^(HTOED) The colloquial and dialect form ''mebbe'' is also found.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1400 – adverb (''Cursor Mundi'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1444 – ''mayhap'' (Paston Letters).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1580s – noun, a possibility.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1687 – adjective, possible.^(HTOED)

+ * early 19th century – still sometimes two words.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[perhaps|alt=Perhaps]]; possibly.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An uncertainty; a possibility.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # An uncertain or noncommittal reply.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[may]]

+ * [[be]]

+ * [[mayhap]]

+ * [[perhaps]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}