Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Sport or play such as is usual on or about the first of May; hence, frolic; jest.
- noun One who takes part in the May-games or May-day sports; hence, a trifler; also, one who is an object of May-games or jests; a make-game.
Etymologies
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Examples
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This _may-game_ is played upon some other occasion besides the one here mentioned: it occurs, however, very rarely, and will soon, I apprehend, be quite obsolete.
The Dialect of the West of England; Particularly Somersetshire James Jennings
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As soon as I saw him I shew'd him the purchase, and both of us resolv'd to make what haste we could to Ascyltos, but Lycurgus's house was not to be reach'd the same day: When we came to Ascyltos we shew'd him the prize, and told him in short the manner of getting it, and how we were made a meer may-game of love: He advis'd us to prepossess
The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter 20-66 Petronius Arbiter
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Had life been all a may-game, Schubart was the best of men, and the wisest of philosophers.
The Life of Friedrich Schiller Comprehending an Examination of His Works Thomas Carlyle 1838
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'graceless?' the very childhre making a laughing-stock and a may-game of you!
The Ned M'Keown Stories Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three William Carleton 1831
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