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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 B+E0sW+Co52OpkbLyeUoN7Jzcpy3kLYLIGFjl9/fbtpaFTfrcu68Cveqha31Lw9J
 d4Lc3p3cjShbtgIa+/csmA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000063416-03-000078.txt : 20030515
<SEC-HEADER>0000063416-03-000078.hdr.sgml : 20030515
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030515114303
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000063416-03-000078
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030514
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030515

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KNIFFEN JAN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184641

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00079
		FILM NUMBER:		03702159

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MAY DEPARTMENT STORES CO
		STREET 2:		611 OLIVE ST STE 1750
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3143426423

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAY DEPARTMENT STORES CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000063416
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				431104396
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0201

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		611 OLIVE ST
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3143426300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-14</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000063416</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAY DEPARTMENT STORES CO</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>MAY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001184641</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KNIFFEN JAN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>21.57</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-14</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Co
mmon</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The stock option becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments, beginning on May 14, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Richard A. Bricson, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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