browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
yes |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Yes \Yes\, adv [OE. yis, [yogh]is, [yogh]es, [yogh]ise, AS gese, gise; probably fr ge['a] yea + sw[=a] so [root]188. See {Yea}, and {So}.] Ay yea; -- a word which expresses affirmation or consent; -- opposed to {no}. Note: Yes is used like yea, to enforce, by repetition or addition, something which precedes; as you have done all this -- yes you have done more ``Yes, you despise the man books confined.'' --Pope. Note: ``The fine distinction between `yea' and `yes,' `nay' and `no,' that once existed in English, has quite disappeared. `Yea' and `nay' in Wyclif's time, and a good deal later were the answers to questions framed in the affirmative. `Will he come?' To this it would have been replied, `Yea' or `Nay', as the case might be But `Will he not come?' To this the answer would have been `Yes' or `No.' Sir Thomas More finds fault with Tyndale, that in his translation of the Bible he had not observed this distinction, which was evidently therefore going out even then, that is in the reign of Henry VIII.; and shortly after it was quite forgotten.'' --Trench. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: yes n : an affirmative; "I was hoping for a yes" [ant: {no}]
more about yes
This work is licensed under a
