yeav.
/jeɪ/, U.S. /jeɪ/ intransitive. To say ‘yea’; to reply affirmatively. Also transitive with it. Chiefly paired with nay.From the late 17th to the 19th century often with reference to Quakers who refused to swear oaths in a court of law, believing that, regardless of the circumstances, nothing more emphatic than ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ should be used. This practice was based on an interpretation of Matthew 5:34–7: ‘Swear not at all... But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.’ (King James version). Cf. by yea and nay at yea-and-nay n. and adj. Phrases and yea-and-nay adj. 2.
ΘΠ
the mind > language > statement > affirmation and denial > reply affirmatively [verb (intransitive)]
to say yeac1425
yea1598
to answer in the affirmativea1626
1598 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 3 Last Bks. vi. i. 81 No more smell-feast Vitellio..loues him in his maw, loaths in his heart, Yet soothes, and yeas, and Nayes on eyther part.
1657 J. Goodwin Βασανισται 6 Such as will swallow their camels, and yea it, and nay it, with them from the one end of their faith unto the other.
1679 Established Test 23 A..Jesuit..can thou and thee, and yea and nay, as well as the best of them [sc. Quakers].
1820 Examiner 3 Sept. 573/2 E'en Church wad be her maist obedient;..Praying, Yea-ing, Nay-ing at her.
1894 Werner's Mag. May 184/1 So he yeaed and she yeaed as their lips were so nigh; For a Quaker can kiss, when there's nobody by!
1943 Thomasville (Georgia) Times-Enterprise 19 Feb. 8/5 Whatever business had been going on down on the floor only those who had been speaking and yeaing and naying knew.
2011 News-Jrnl. (Daytona Beach, Florida) (Nexis) 26 Oct. a5 I wasn't sure if they were yeaing or naying.
Derivatives
yeaing n. [after naying n.]
Π
1677 J. Cheyney Vindic. Oaths 30 If you will have every thing sinful which is above simple yea-ing and nay-ing.
1885 H. F. Keenan Trajan xxx. 469 Ye must be a puir daft auld body not to know that there's no much talk and yeaing and naying in matters of that sort.
1985 J. Dann in G. Dozois Year's Best Sci. Fiction, 2nd Ann. Coll. 283 Everyone agreed, and there was much yeaing in the darkness.
2010 P. Griffin In Search of Serenity viii. 83 All the yea-ing and nay-ing the vote entailed from those gathered.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
yeaadv.n.
/jeɪ/, U.S. /jeɪ/α. early Old English gae (in Latin context), early Old English gę, Old English gæ (Anglian), Old English gee (chiefly Northumbrian), Old English iæ (rare), Old English ie (rare), Old English (chiefly non-West Saxon) early Middle English ge, Middle English ȝe, Middle English ȝee, Middle English ȝehe, Middle English ȝhe, Middle English yhe, Middle English–1600s (1800s– English regional, Irish English, and U.S. regional) yee, 1500s je, Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional (Devon)) ye; Scottish pre-1700 ȝe, pre-1700 ȝee, pre-1700 ye, pre-1700 yee.
β. Old English–early Middle English gea, Old English–Middle English ia, Middle English gia, Middle English ȝa, Middle English ȝaa, Middle English ȝae, Middle English ȝea, Middle English ȝha, Middle English ya, Middle English yaa, Middle English yha, Middle English yia (northern), Middle English 1600s yae, Middle English– yea, 1500s yeaye, 1500s–1600s yeae; Scottish pre-1700 ȝa, pre-1700 ȝaa, pre-1700 ȝae, pre-1700 ȝea, pre-1700 ȝha, pre-1700 ya, pre-1700 yaa, pre-1700 yha, pre-1700 1700s– yea; N.E.D. (1921) also records the forms Middle English ȝia, Middle English iaa.
γ. Old English gi (Northumbrian), Old English gie (Northumbrian), Old English giee (Northumbrian), Middle English ȝie, Middle English yie, 1700s– yigh (English regional (northern and Hampshire)), 1800s yhi (English regional (northern)), 1800s yi (English regional (Lancashire and Devon)), 1800s yoi (English regional (northern and midlands)), 1800s yoigh (English regional (Lancashire)), 1800s yoy (English regional (northern and midlands)); Scottish pre-1700 ȝie.
δ. early Middle English geu, early Middle English ȝeoi, early Middle English ȝoi, early Middle English ȝui, Middle English ȝoye; Scottish pre-1700 ȝoy.
ε. Middle English ȝay, Middle English ȝeyȝe, Middle English yei, Middle English (1800s English regional (Cheshire)) yai, 1800s yeigh (English regional (northern)), 1800s– yay (irregular or nonstandard); Scottish pre-1700 ȝai, pre-1700 ȝei, pre-1700 ȝey, pre-1700 ȝhai, pre-1700 ȝhay, pre-1700 yei.
ζ. Middle English ȝo, Middle English ȝoe, Middle English ȝoo, 1500s–1600s yoo; N.E.D. (1921) also records the forms Middle English ioo, Middle English yoe, Middle English yoo.
Now chiefly archaic and British regional (Scottish and English regional (northern)).
A. adv.† 3. Used to directly qualify a clause or word.† 4. Used in place of a subordinate clause expressing affirmation, typically following a verb of saying or thinking: = yes adv. 3. Cf. to say yea at Phrases 1. Obsolete.
1.
a. Expressing an affirmative reply to a question (or implied question) which doesn't involve a negative: yes. Cf. nay adv.1 1a.In older usage yea was considered the proper affirmative reply when the question was framed in the positive, whereas yes was usually considered to be the proper affirmative reply to a question framed in the negative (see yes adv. 1a); a similar distinction was made between nay and no. This distinction became obsolete soon after 1600, and since then yes has been the ordinary affirmative reply to any question positive or negative, and yea has become archaic.In Middle English ȝe is sometimes accompanied by a pronoun repeating the pronominal subject of the question (see e.g. quot. ?c1225 and cf. quot. c1230 at sense A. 1b).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > affirmation and denial > [adverb] > as an affirmative answer > in answer to question not involving negative
yesOE
yeaOE
just so1655
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xxvii. 24 He..cwæð: Eart ðu Esau, min sunu? & he cwæð: Ia, leof, ic hyt eom.
OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xxi. 15 Þa cwæð se Hælend to Simone Petre,..lufast ðu me swiðor þænne ðas? He cwæð to him, gea [OE Lindisf. Gospels gee; L. etiam] Drihten, þu wast þæt ic þe lufige.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4452 Maȝȝ aniȝ mann slan oþerr mann. & cwellenn himm wiþþ herrte? Ȝa. full wel. seȝȝþ þatt latin boc.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 47 (MED) Is hit god for to hiheren godes weordes and heom athalden? ȝe fuliwis.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 299 Mei ich Preoue þis. ȝe witerliche ich.
c1330 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Auch.) (1966) l. 598 Ȝhe ne answerede nai ne ȝo.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 268 ‘What? sone,’ seide þe couherde ‘seidestow i was here?’ ‘Ȝa, sire, sertes,’ seide þe child.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 772 ‘And wenis þou þat it be sua Sum he has said yow?’ ‘certes, ya!’
c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 378 Gauan asshes, ‘Is hit soe?’ Þe toþer knyȝt grauntus, ‘Ȝoe.’
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) l. 2843 ‘Madem, if ȝhe remembir, so it was The red knycht..That wencust al’... ‘Ȝha,’ quod the qwen, ‘rycht well remembir I.’
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 229 I said, ‘Is this ȝour gouirnance, To tak men for thair luking heir?’ Fresche Bewty said, ‘ȝa, schir.’
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xiii. f. xixv Iesus sayde vnto them: have ye vnderstonde all these thynges: they sayde, ye syr.
?a1550 Seven Questions Dying Man (Lansd. 762) in J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (1902) 69 Belevest thowe fully alle the pryncipalle articles of the Feithe..? The Sike persone answerethe, Yee.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iii. iii. sig. E.j Trowest thou so? M. M. Ye plain.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. ii. 2 King. Barkloughly castle call they this at hand? Aum. Yea my Lord. View more context for this quotation
1602 Contention Liberalitie & Prodigalitie ii. iii. sig. C1 Van... What, still so hastily? Ten. Yoo by gisse, sir, tis high time.
1611 W. Adams Let. in T. Rundall Mem. Japon (1850) 39 He asked whether our countrey had warres? I answered him yea.
1731 J. Creichton Mem. 73 What said the General, did you send me to hell, sir? Yea, replied the Dragoon.
1794 T. Holcroft Adventures Hugh Trevor I. vi. 47 ‘And so, Mary, thou say'st thou beest with child?’ ‘Yea, Tummas, that I too surely be.’
1849 W. H. Ainsworth Lancashire Witches (1854) 44 ‘Is aw reet? Is he wi' yo?’ ‘Yeigh,’ replied Hal.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 37 ‘Look on it, child, and tell me if you know it.’ And Enid..answer'd, ‘Yea, I know it.’
1896 W. W. Skeat & T. Hallam Pegge's Two Coll. Derbicisms Yoy, yes, from yea or ay rather than yes.
1909 K. D. Wiggin Susanna & Sue i. 13 [Shaker Eldress loq.] ‘Yee, yee! I remember well!’ [Note] Yea is always thus pronounced among the Shakers.
1988 Shetland Folk Bk. 8 45 Dis aald man says till him, ‘Boy is dis dee wissin at I might spew me lights, liver an aa at hings bi da trapple?’ An Johnnie, bein a pör föl ting a boy, said ‘Yea, dat am I.’
2006 J. Winterson Tanglewreck (2007) 150 Micah turned to Balthazar. ‘Do you hear it, brother?’ ‘Yea.’
b. Expressing an affirmative reply to a question involving a negative: yes.Yes, rather than yea, was usually considered to be the proper affirmative reply to a question framed in the negative (see yes adv. 1a and note at sense A. 1a).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > affirmation and denial > [adverb] > as an affirmative answer > in answer to negative question or statement
yeaOE
OE Ælfric's Colloquy (1991) 24 Nescis uenare nisi cum retibus? Etiam sine retibus uenare possum : ne canst þu huntian buton mid nettum? Gea, butan nettum huntian ic mæg.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 248 Nis naut quod he god se grim as ȝe him makeð. Noa he seið Dauid ȝeihe [a1250 Titus ȝeoi he, a1250 Nero ȝuihe] & sei þenne.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 200 Ne mahte he wið leasse gref habben arud us? ȝeoi iwiss [?c1225 Cleo. ȝes iwis, a1250 Nero ȝe siker, a1250 Titus ȝuse iwis] ful lihtliche.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xvii. 23 Thei..seiden to hym, Ȝoure maister payeth nat tribute? And he seith, Ȝhe [a1425 L.V. Ȝhis].
c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lxviii (MED) Quhareto lyve I langer? Wofullest wicht, and subject unto peyne; Of peyne? no: God wote, ya.
1600 T. Dekker Shomakers Holiday sig. K3 King Shines not Lacies name, As bright in the worldes eye, as the gay beames Of any citizen? Linc. Yea but my gratious Lord,I do mislike the match farre more than he.
?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 16 M. Boh ha did'n eh doo we yer weet Clooas, wur'ney naw welley parisht? T. Yigh, be meh troth.
1879 E. Waugh Chimney Corner 149 ‘This is th' house, isn't it, Matty?’ ‘Yigh. We're just i' time.’
1886 B. Brierley Cast upon World viii. 86 ‘Owd Betty's bin good to thee sometimes, has no' hoo, Dick?’ said Ellen. ‘Yigh; an' so has owd Johnny,’ Dick admitted.
1999 J. Garnett Baron xxix. 276 ‘Will that not be enough to rebuild Huntington?’ ‘Yea, but agreement has been delayed.’
c. Used to contradict or disagree with a negative statement: = yes adv. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > affirmation and denial > [adverb] > as an affirmative answer > in answer to negative question or statement > in contradiction of negative statement
yesOE
yea1561
1561 Exam. Iohn Bradforde sig. aviv I am not iustlye spoken of. yea but you indited it.
1685 J. Benbrigge Christ above all Exalted 3 Thou doest say so Paul, but thou wilt not doe so; Yea, but I have done so already, is his returne.
1711 J. Anderson Dialogue between Curat & Countrey-man 14 Cur. O Friend, these Titles are not meant by the Church in the Internal Sense. Countr. Yea, Sir, but they are!
1855 E. Waugh Sketches Lancs. Life 229 ‘But, you hav'nt many neighbours about you, here.’ ‘Oh, yigh;’ said he. ‘There's th' farmer's theer; and one or two moor... Oh! ah; we'n plenty o' neighbours!’
1886 H. Cunliffe Gloss. Rochdale-with-Rossendale Words & Phrases Yi..is..a negative [answer] to a statement, as, ‘You have not been at home to-day’, to which ‘yi’ means that the statement made is untrue.
1886 B. Brierley Cast upon World xvi. 195 ‘I'm fear't thou wouldno' be able to manage above th' weight of a pair o' shirts by thysel'.’ ‘Oh, yigh. I'm as strong as mony a one when I ha' no' far to hop.’
1974 P. Wright Lang. Brit. Industry ii. 32 Lancashire has yigh, but only to contradict—e.g. ‘You didn't!’ ‘Yigh, I did.’
1997 G. Shorrocks Gramm. Dial. Bolton Area 203 When the situational polarity is positive, one answers (affirmatively) /aɪ/ aye ‘yes’, if the polarity of the preceding utterance is positive, but /jaɪ/ yigh ‘yes (contradictory), oh yes, etc.’, if it is negative.
2.
a. Expressing agreement with a statement, or assent to a request or command: = yes adv. 2a, 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > assent > [adverb] > expression of assent
yesOE
yeaOE
soa1400
toa1525
very well1529
yus1775
yerse1862
yeah1863
yeh1868
orright1874
yep1883
yup1887
ayuh1894
yairs1896
yayus1900
yip1906
too right1919
quite1924
OE tr. Vindicta Salvatoris (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) in J. E. Cross Two Old Eng. Apocrypha (1996) 275 ‘Gif þu þone man to me gelædest.., ic wylle on his naman gefullod beon.’ Volosianus hym andswarode..: ‘Gea hlaford, and hwæt gif ic swylcne man gemete [etc.]?’
c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 26 (MED) ‘Tele us sumhwet of him’..‘Ȝe [a1250 Titus ȝoi] iseoð,’ quoð liues luue.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 524 (MED) Þan seyd þat on, ‘a feuer it is’; ‘Ȝa,’ quod Gij.
c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 170 ‘I trouwe þat beo þi sone’ bi Iosaphe he seide. ‘Ȝe, sire, so he is.’
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1246 ‘Sun,’ he said, ‘þou most now ga To paradis þat i com fra.’..‘Yai, sir, wist i wyderward þat tat vncuth contre ware.’
a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 2979 ‘Ye shul vnto me swere Þe lawes kepe til I gayn [read agayn] come,’..to which þei gan answere, ‘Ȝee, ȝee, man, ȝee!’
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Josh. xxiv. E Ye are witnesses ouer youre selues, that ye haue chosen you the Lorde, to serue him. And they sayde: Yee.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. ii. 3 Iohn It is so, the Counte Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonato. Bora. Yea my lord, but I can crosse it. View more context for this quotation
1683 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) I. 72 All yee that are willing yt the last proposition should stand so as it is, say yee.
?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 23 I woud idd'n tell him I'd fene speyk to him sed I; yigh, sed he, that I'll doo.
1792 R. Bage Man as he Is III. lxxiv. 189 ‘You have seen Sir George, I know,’ said Mr. Lindsay. ‘Yea,’ said Miss Carlill, ‘more than once.’
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 85 ‘Then, Enid, shall you ride Behind me.’ ‘Yea,’ said Enid, ‘let us go.’
1921 R. Benton Happy Man ii, in Star-child & Other Plays 58 King. Methinks all men of my kingdom have passed through these doors, and all with cause for sadness. Doctor... Yea, it is truly a malignant contagion—sadness.
1931 Shetland Times 14 Mar. 7 ‘I do declare it is warm!’ ‘Yea, dat shö is in feth!’
2006 D. MacGillivray Restless Knight 318 ‘Gervase!’ he called. ‘Yea, my lord.’ The squire spurred his steed to catch up to his liege.
b. Expressing concessive assent or agreement, before introducing an objection or qualification: = yes adv. 2c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > objection > [adverb] > expression of
yeaOE
naya1325
the mind > language > statement > assent > [adverb] > expression of assent > vague assent or opposition
yeaOE
yeah, right1969
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) viii. 67 Þæt wif andwyrde: Gea leof drihten, swa ðeah ða hwelpas etað of ðam crumum þe feallað of heora hlafordes mysan.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Royal) l. 425 (MED) ‘Crist..walde bliðeliche alle monne heale, ah hwa se obote nule gan, ne schal he beon iborhen’; ‘ȝe,’ quod he, ‘haldestu ȝet uppon þi gencling?’
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1565 ‘Þere nis man vpon molde þat ever schal me have but ȝe’..‘Ȝe, wist y þat..of alle harmes were ich hol hastely riȝt nouþe!’
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xi. l. 33 (MED) ‘Ȝee, recche þe neuere,’ quod recchelesnes.
a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) l. 3353 ‘Þis childe rose vp, and alyue he ys’... ‘Ȝe,’ quod þe kyng, ‘he nasnot dede þo, y-wys.’
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Ciiiv Fan. They fell a chydynge with crafty conuayaunce. Cou. Ab. Ye dyd they so.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Gen. iii. A The serpent..sayde vnto the woman: Yee, hath God sayde in dede: Ye shall not eate of all maner trees in the garden?
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 378 ‘Hald ȝow fra the Court, for ocht that may be; Ȝone man that thow outrayd Is not sa simpill as he said..’ ‘Ȝea, Dame, haue nane dreid of my lyfe to day.’
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 412 Rob. Come recreant... De. Yea, art thou there?
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear iv. 298 Yea, i'st [printed i st] come to this? View more context for this quotation
1635 G. Hakewill Apologie (ed. 3) v. 192 Yea but I vilifie the present times, you say, whiles I expect a more flourishing state to succeed.
1715 S. Centlivre Humours of Elections 68 Mal. Perhaps there may be no harm in it, the Gentleman might mean it well. Scru. Yea he doth mean it well for himself no doubt on't.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 52 ‘Yonder comes a knight.’..‘Yea, but one? Wait here, and when he passes fall upon him.’
2005 New Shetlander No. 233. 37/1 I wondered if it had been made up by somebody, a word misheard, misused and gleefully quoted forever after in fireside yarns: ‘Yea, min, I doot hit's juist, as Aald Peter o da Quoys wis wint ta say, “a lock o hellery!”’
a. Truly, certainly. Also used parenthetically with weakened sense: indeed. Obsolete.In quots. OE1, OE2, translating classical Latin iam now. This use is found only in Anglian interlinear glosses and the sense is not entirely certain, but cf. alternative glosses such as witodlīce truly, indeed. Cf. also sense A. 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb]
mid or with (‥) soothc888
soothfastlya890
soothfastc950
rightOE
yeaOE
soothlyOE
soothOE
trulyc1225
soothrightc1275
purec1300
verament1303
verily1303
purelyc1325
verimentc1325
indeedc1330
veirec1330
soothfully1340
faithlyc1350
of very (due) right?a1366
leallya1375
amenc1384
in soothnessc1386
verya1387
in certaina1400
truea1400
without(en) wougha1400
in veirec1400
in deedc1405
without famec1430
in veramentc1450
utterlyc1460
veritably1481
veritable1490
voirably1501
seriously1644
quite1736
quite1881
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Matt. xix. 6 Itaque iam non sunt duo sed una caro : forðon gee uel uutedlice næ sint tuoe ah an lichoma.
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: John xvi. 32 Ecce uenit hora et iam uenit ut dispergamini : heona cuom ðio tid gee uel cuom þætte gie se touorpen [gloss in margin gi nu cummen is].
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2411 Whi gaff ȝho swillc anndswere..? Ȝa mihhte ȝho sket affterr þatt, Wiþþ hire macche sammnenn... Whi gaff ȝho swillc anndswere onn ȝæn, Hu maȝȝ þis forþedd wurrþenn, Þatt i wiþþ childe muȝhe ben?
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 115 Iherdȝe beo þin holi nome, in heouene & in eorþe.
c1405 (c1380) G. Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 471 Han noght oure myghty princes to me yeuen Ye bothe power and auctoritee To maken folk to dyen or to lyuen.
a1450 (?c1350) Pride of Life l. 462 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 104 Loke þat þou aspye, Ȝe, bi al þi miȝte, Of Deth and of his maistrye Qwher he durst com in siȝte.
c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 891 Schulde we leve þis lyue? Ya, whowe? We may amende wen we be sage.
1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades iii. 58 Helene..did him earnestly behold, and swelling yea with wrath [etc.].
b. Used to emphasize the extreme or surprising nature of the case mentioned in comparison with a weaker or more general one implied or expressed: even. Obsolete.In quots. OE1, OE2 translating classical Latin etiam even (also, in other contexts, in sense ‘indeed, yes’). This use is found only in Anglian interlinear glosses in Old English and has alternatively been interpreted as showing sense A. 3a.
ΚΠ
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark xiii. 22 Exsurgent enim pseudochristi et pseudoprophete et dabunt signa..ad seducendos si potest fieri etiam electos : arisað forðon wiðer uel leaso cristo & lease witgo & sellað beceno..hi to gesuicanne gif mæge wosa gee ða gecoreno.
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke (headings to readings) xxii Etiam inimicos praecepit diligendos : æc uel gee ða fiondas bebead to lufanne.
a1300 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Caius) 46 (MED) Al þi wil schal beon iwraht, In heouene & in eorþe & ge get in helle [?c1225 Cleo. ȝe & ȝet Inhelle].
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 293 (MED) This Augustus was so i-loved, ȝe among straunge naciouns, þat, [etc.].
c1410 tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 129 Þe kyng..forbeed þat any schulde selle hym woode ȝe [L. etiam] forto seþe his mete and vitailles wiþ.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Prov. xiv. 20 A pore man schal be hateful, ȝhe [L. etiam], to his neiȝbore.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 79 (MED) A iuge schal witnes bi his dome þat an oþer mannis þing is myn..ȝa þow he wit þat it is fals.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) lxxvi. §11. 275 (MED) That dos nane bot he that forgetis all the warld, ȝa and him selfe and anly ioyes in god.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > affirmation and denial > [adverb] > standing for affirmative clause
yeaOE
yesa1393
OE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1067 Se kyng befealh georne hire breðer oð þæt he cwæð ia wið.
1397–8 Rolls of Parl.: Richard II (Electronic ed.) Parl. Sept. 1397 Pleas. §7. m. 4 I trowe rather yee than nay.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 772 And wenis þou þat hit is squa. certis, ho sayde I. traw ya [Gött. ȝa, Trin. Cambr. ȝe].
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 29 To a ferme..oiþer ȝie or nay.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxiv. 511 Alas, doo they not remembre me, I byleve better ye than nay.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 263 Yf they swere ye, they are your enemyes, and to the contrary, yf they swere that noo.
5. Used as an intensifier, esp. to emphasize or strengthen the speaker's own preceding statement, or to introduce a more emphatic or comprehensive statement: = yes adv. 4. Cf. nay adv.1 4.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adverb] > outstandingly > introducing statement more emphatic than preceding
yeac1225
nay1550
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adverb] > outstandingly > emphasizing following statement
yeac1225
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) l. 570 (MED) Eð were ure lauerd..toawarpen his unwine..wið an anlepi word, ȝe [a1250 Titus ȝea] wið his an wil.
a1250 Ureisun ure Louerde (Lamb.) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 185 He openeþ swa þe moder hire earmes hire leoue child for to cluppen, ȝe soþes.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 4798 Seint patric was þere monek & suþþe abbot þer Ȝe ar seint austin come mo þen an hundred ȝer.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 19752 He fande a man unferee In parlesie gia aȝte ȝier.
?c1430 (c1383) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 10 Þei seyn þat an heþene philosofre..is wittiere and trewere þan almyȝti god, ȝe þat god is fals and a fole.
c1480 (a1400) St. Machor 153 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 5 Þai..Ioy mad, ȝey, mare þan ma nemmyt be.
a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 1626 Kynge Arthur than loude spake A-monge hys knyghtis to the quene: ‘Ȝa, yonder is launcelot du lake, Yiff I hym euyr with syght haue sene.’
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) cxlix. 565 I had rather haue lost .iiii. of my best cityes, ye and all my countre..destroyed.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 38 Giff we be the barnis of God thane ar we alsua heritours, ȝei heritours of God.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 38v How wantonly, yea, and howe willingly haue wee abused our golden time.
1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 3 As that the true Christian Religion was planted heere most auntiently by Ioseph of Arimathia,..yea by saint Peter, and saint Paul.
c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) i. v. §2 We see, not onelie in our idiom, but in the latin alsoe, one symbol to have sundrie soundes, ye, and that in one word; as lego, legis.
1670 W. Walker Idiomatologia Anglo-Latina Pref. sig. A4v I did not always particularly quote the place of my Author..; yea sometimes I did not so much as set down any Author at all.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 117 Regents and Potentates, and Kings, yea gods Of many a pleasant Realm. View more context for this quotation
1678 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress Author's Apol. sig. A4 If that thou wilt not read, let it alone; Some love the meat, some love to pick the bone. Yea, that I might them better palliate, I did too with them thus Expostulate. View more context for this quotation
1741 S. Richardson Pamela IV. xvi. 111 We shall depart from all our own Worthiness, and, at best, be but the Apes, yea, the Dupes, of those whom we may strive to imitate.
1773 M. O. Warren Adulateur iv. iii. 27 True greatness peer'd, and promis'd future glory. Yea while an infant, hanging at the breast, With life, you largely suck'd the lust of power.
1786 J. Wesley Jrnl. 3 May in Extract Jrnl. (1789) XX. 124 Some of them use improper, yea, indecent expressions in prayer.
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab ii. 23 Those Pyramids shall fall; Yea! not a stone shall stand to tell The spot whereon they stood.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 38 I..kept it for a sweet surprise at morn. Yea, truly is it not a sweet surprise?
1948 Agric. Hist. 22 32/2 Those far-reaching plans that shall save the farmer..; yea, that shall preserve our civilization itself from the gehenna of desolation and decay.
1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 126 O, he wis ill! Yea, very ill, An laek ta wear awa.
1999 P. Quarrington Spirit Cabinet vi. 67 ‘Yea,’ his father might say, sometime even adding the verily , ‘Wither comes this luminiferous orb?’
2006 Vanity Fair Oct. 312/2 No restaurant in America has inspired, yea invited, more cultish worship.
B. n.
1.
a. An utterance of ‘yea’; an affirmative answer or vote; an expression of assent or agreement. Usually contrasted with nay or no.In quots. a14251, a14252 in a post-classical Latin phrase meaning that a person's statement is to be trusted without corroboration by an oath. Quot. a14251 is from a forged charter perhaps based on a model from the first half of the 12th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > affirmation and denial > [noun] > affirmative reply
yeac1390
yes1533
affirmative1961
the mind > language > statement > assent > [noun] > word or expression of assent
yeac1390
yes1533
placet1589
amen1609
yeaword1810
c1390 in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 488 (MED) Oþer a nay, or A ȝa? Soone tel þou me swa!
a1425 (?OE) Royal Charter: Æðelstan to Ripon (Sawyer 456) in D. A. Woodman Charters of Northern Houses (2012) 258 Concedo eis..quod homines sui sint credendi per suum ya et per suum na.
a1425 ( in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1882) I. 53 Credendi..per suum na vel suum ya.
c1450 in Mediaeval Stud. (1975) 37 124 (MED) Afferm or deny neuer ony thynge obstinatly, bot lat youre yees and nayes be als dowtys.
a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 574 in Poems (1981) 151 Thingis..Till ȝe or na quhilk ar indefferent.
1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) James v. 12 Sweare not... Let youre ye be ye, and youre naye naye.
1578 H. Wotton tr. J. Yver Courtlie Controuersie 230 Take pitie of him which attendeth life or death of your yea or nay.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 413 My wooing minde shalbe exprest In russet yeas, and honest kersie noes. View more context for this quotation
1611 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Earl of Eglinton (1885) 538 in Parl. Papers 1884–5 (C. 4575) XLIV. 1 Their No should be as welcome unto him as their Yea.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) i. iv. 89 The very yea, & the no is, ye French Doctor my Master [etc.] . View more context for this quotation
1642 J. Taylor Anat. of Separatists 3 Their mouths are replenished with yeas, and very lyes.
1706 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (O.H.S.) I. 203 'Twas carried in ye Affirmative Yeas 141, Noes 71.
1714 tr. H. Joutel Jrnl. Last Voy. M. de la Sale 34 We observ'd that their Yea consisted in a Cry, fetch'd from the Bottom of the Throat.
1789 A. Young Jrnl. 30 June in Trav. France (1792) i. 129 She determined..to go to church,..and give a solemn No instead of a yea.
1812 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 178 Their nay is the yea of truth, and its best test.
1862 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles (ed. 7) xxxiii. 473 Not seldom He gives even in the very act of seeming to deny; his Nay proving indeed a veiled Yea.
1938 Bks. Abroad 12 309/2 This meaty brochure answers the title question with a resounding ‘Yea’.
1991 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 2 July 30 Mar. This brought a loud ‘yea’ from the crowd and an equally loud disapproving murmur from the JLP councillors.
2015 B. Cahill Alice Paul, National Woman's Party & Vote i. 43 The youngest representative, Harry Burn, changed his vote to a ‘yea’ on the exhortation of his mother.
b. Esp. in Christian contexts: affirmation, assurance; certainty, absolute truth; a positive statement or principle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [noun] > instance of
yeaa1400
certainty1605
certitude1611
promisea1625
a1400 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Trin. Dublin 75) 2 Cor. i. 18 [c1384 Douce 369(2) For oure word the which was at ȝou, ther is not in it] ȝea [c1400 Royal ȝhe; Douce 369(2) continues is and nay, but in it is is, that is, treuthe].
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 2 Cor. i. 19–20 Goddis sonne Jesus Christ..was not ye and naye: but in hym it was ye. For all the promises of God, in hym are ye [1881 R.V. in him is yea. For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea]: and are in hym Amen.
1642 W. Lyford Princ. Faith & good Conscience x. 45 All the promises of God have the Yea and Amen in Christ.
1753 tr. A. Frey True & Authentic Acct. 62 Christ..the everlasting Yea and Amen.
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. ix. 69/2 Love God. This is the Everlasting Yea, wherein all contradiction is solved.
2006 R. Milder Exiled Royalties 90 In place of the binaries of water and vapor.., the Everlasting No and the Everlasting Yea, Ishmael develops a third position, agnosticism—the Everlasting Maybe.
2. Chiefly in plural. A person who votes in favour of a proposal, originally in a parliamentary division (division n. 8) and now esp. in the U.S. Congress. Frequently in the yeas have it: those voting in favour of a proposal are in the majority; a proposal has been voted for. Usually contrasted with nay or no. Cf. aye n. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > assertion or affirmation > [noun] > vote in the affirmative > those who
yea1647
aye1669
content1779
1647 J. Lilburne Rash Oaths Unwarrantable 47 The question being put, whether an answer shall be given to this Petition at this present, the house was devided the yeas went forth.
1648 C. Walker Relations & Observ. ii. 89 The Question put: The Speaker gave judgment, the Yeas had it.
1781 J. Hatsell Precedents Proc. House of Commons 73 If this question for adjournment takes place before four o'clock in the afternoon, and there is a division upon it, the Yeas go forth; if after four o'clock, the Noes.
1789 Massachusetts Spy 29 Jan. 3/2 197 Members present—Yeas 101.
1830 Reg. Deb. Congr. 6 859 All that is required, is that the Clerk at your table should count over the votes, and the Speaker pronounce ‘the yeas have it,’ and the work of desolation is done.
1845 W. L. Mackenzie Lives Butler & Hoyt 199 Honest Jasper Ward was a yea, and when the vote came up next Nov. for a repeal he and Bowman bolted.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. I. xiii. 176 If one-fifth of a quorum demand a call of yeas and nays, this is taken.
1946 Jrnl. Politics 8 129 All but six of the yeas were from the North.
1984 Coe Cosmos (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 9 May 3/4 Various tactics were used during the convention to get certain planks passed, including: calls for division of the house, in which the yeas and nays were recognized by standing.
2016 S. Coonts Liberty's Last Stand vi. 83 The speaker called for a voice vote. The yeas had it.
Phrases
P1. to say yea: to assent or agree to something. Cf. to say yes at yes adv., n., and int. Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > affirmation and denial > reply affirmatively [verb (intransitive)]
to say yeac1425
yea1598
to answer in the affirmativea1626
the mind > language > statement > assent > [verb (intransitive)]
ensentc1290
accordc1300
to say yesa1400
senta1400
to say yeac1425
condescend1477
subscribe1531
accede1534
to take a person at his (also her) word1535
homologatea1649
to close with1654
to set one's seal1659
yes1820
yea-say1876
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 3553 (MED) What hem [sc. women] list, be it wrong or riȝt, Þei ay acheue, who seyth ȝe or nay.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid i. Prol. 93 Nocht fullie grantand, nor anis sayand ȝe.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 128 (margin) A folkemot was an assembly of people to say yea or nay to that which should be declared vnto them.
1613 in W. Cramond Church of Aberdour (1896) 9 After..lawful tryell of his knowledge..they may say yea or na to his admission.
1845 R. D. Owen Addr. on Free Inq. 5 If our judgment say no, we must not suffer our interest to say yea.
1891 Contemp. Rev. 59 195 One needs things to be a little more clearly defined before one can say Yea or Nay.
1905 House Beautiful Dec. 28/1 Sometimes we say Yay when we ought to say Nay, and sometimes we say Nay when we would like to say Yea, on account of the source of the invitation.
2006 Canberra Times (Nexis) 19 Aug. b7 A minister advised by bureaucrats to say yea or nay to development.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > necessity > [adverb] > whether one will or not
would…nouldOE
whether he (etc.) will or nillOE
will I (or) nill I (he, they, etc.)OE
maugre1340
nill he, will hea1400
who(ever) will or nillc1449
bongre maugrec1450
whether‥yea or no (also nay)1515
nolens volens1547
willing or nilling1578
volens nolens1602
willy-nilly1608
nilling, willing1657
nilly-willy1662
bon gré mal gré1818
wilta shalta1824
william-nilliam1907
1515 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 93 To the Interrogatory Whethir thei had this by the Comen assent ye or noo [etc.].
c1540 Depositions ex parte Plaintiff (Brasenose Coll. Oxf. Archives) (Hurst Cal. of Munim. 1, Ascot Doyley 13) Whether J. S. was cosyn and heire of [A. B.], ye or naye, he knoweth not.
1577 N. Breton Floorish vpon Fancie sig. Bijv Would I ye or no, I learnd some of his raging rules.
1670 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1913) 4th Ser. 313 In that time I shall tell thee whether I shall make them yea or no.
1725 Pious Descr. 2 in Curious Uncommon Acct. Now chuse ye, whether yea or no, You'll to Eternal Glories go.
1887 Dundee Courier & Daily Argus 18 May But this was..as collateral to the inquiry whether yea or nay the civil right had been invaded by the party.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) i. i. 80 Sir, I thanke you: by yea, and no I doe. View more context for this quotation
Compounds
yea-forsooth adj. now rare tending to say ‘yea forsooth’ in an ingratiating or obsequious way; (hence) characterized by superficial or obsequious agreement.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > assent > [adjective] > addicted to saying 'yea forsooth'
yea-forsooth1600
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. ii. 36 A horeson Achitophella rascall: yea forsooth knaue, to beare a gentle man in hand, and then stand vpon security. View more context for this quotation
1859 Beacon & Christian Times 2 Feb. 88/1 Compare for a moment this kind of yea-forsooth spirit in which men discuss the question of Parliamentary Reform with the breathless questionings upon whether Europe, in a few months' time, is to have peace or war. Men are in earnest upon that point.
1933 Evening Jrnl. (Washington, Iowa) 1 Apr. 5/3 He was farthest from being a yea-forsooth man.
yea-nay adj. (also yea/nay) (a) characterized by both ‘yea’ and ’nay’; (hence) characterized by a lack of firm answers or decisions; equivocal (now rare); (b) answerable by or definable in terms of a simple affirmation or negation; cf. yes-no adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective]
twiredec888
orrathc1175
twofoldc1175
twifoldc1200
waveringc1315
uncertain1382
suspensec1440
mammeringa1450
flowing?1504
floghtering1521
vacillant1521
in a mammering1532
double-minded1552
unstaid1561
unresolute1570
unresolved?1571
staggeringa1577
frittle1579
irresolute1579
cheverel1583
off and on1583
halting1585
unsettleda1593
unresolving1599
demurring1607
waving1611
suspensive1614
hoveringa1616
startling1619
irresolved1621
hesitating1622
indetermined1628
variousa1643
branling1645
hesitant1647
non-sincere1656
hesitatious1657
humdrum1660
shuttlecock1660
yea-and-nay1672
swaying1688
interpendent1708
undetermined1718
Squadronec1720
hesitatorya1734
volanta1734
shilly-shally1734
dilly-dally1749
niffy-naffy1765
wiggle-waggle1778
undecided1779
undecisive1780
indecisive1787
conflicted1789
hesitative1795
undeciding1802
vacillating1814
yea-nay1827
demurrant1836
willy-nilly1839
shilly-shallying1842
oscillative1852
Hamletish1854
vacillatory1854
dilly-dallying1879
thistledown1897
weak-principled1913
not-quite1920
off-again on-again1923
dithery1931
havering1975
1827 S. T. Mitchell Spirit Old Dominion 176 He was a yea nay, good for nothing sort of a creature, and as he had no claims upon our lands, my father treated him with hospitality and kindness.
1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics (1860) II. viii. ii. 279 It was indeed no time for compliment—for hesitant, yea-nay utterance upon the question.
1883 St. Louis Globe-Democrat 19 Dec. 2/5 He called for a yea-nay vote on the adoption of the clause.
1964 Sunday News Tribune (Fort Pierce, Florida) 23 Aug. 15/1 (headline) Football prospect at FSU a yea-nay sort of thing.
2002 Film Comment Mar. 61/1 Star salaries, most production budget items, and most importantly, the amount of marketing bucks—all of these are..within someone's yea/nay decision-making power.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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v.1598
adv.n.OE