"used to express an ability or power", according to my dictionary. A definable amount of uncertainty seems implit in the standard usage, especially when negated -- to say "I may not get there on time" doesn't rule out the possibility that I might arrive on time. Sadly, "may' has lost all its meaning in the corporate world -- it's now used to suggest that "you might think you have a chance of the ambiguity going your way, but you really don't". If you read in corporate boilerplate -- "A fee may apply." -- do you really believe there is any change you won't be paying a fee? On the other hand, if you read -- "We may offer you other rights not specified in this document. -- you have to be pretty optimistic to believe that anything will be forthcoming...

submitted by Jim Miller

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