Middle English Dictionary Entry
yē n.
Entry Info
| Forms | yē n. Also ȝei, ia. |
| Etymology | From yē interj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An utterance of the word ‘yea’, an affirmation;
(b) ~ and (or) nai, nai and ~, positive and (or) negative statement(s, assertion(s, or command(s;
(c) ~ (and) nai, ~ ~ nai nai, ~ treuli…nai treuli, solemn assertion(s and denial(s;—used in statements or echoes of the Biblical injunction against blasphemous oaths;
(d) the word ‘ye’.
Associated quotations
a
- (1228) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.7453 : Quod homines ligii sui sint credendi de vero et falso dicendo, probando aut defendendo ubicumque et in qualibet re per suum ‘na’ vel suum ‘ya’.
- c1390 Disp.Christian & J.(Vrn)125 : Artou diht ffor to holde þat þou hiht?…Oþer a ‘nay’, or A ‘ȝa’, Soone tel þou me swa.
- c1400 WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)2 Cor.1.18 : It is ȝhe [WB(2) Gloss.: that is, affermynge of truthe oonli; Dc 369(2): God is trewe, for oure word…ther is not in it ‘is’ and ‘nay’, but in it is ‘is’, that is treuthe].
- c1450 GEpist.(1) (Add 37790)124/37 : Afferm or deny neuer ony thynge obstinatly, bot lat youre yees and nayes be als dowtys.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.1.17 : Wher…tho thingis that I thenke, I thenke aftir the fleisch, that at me be ‘is’ and ‘not’, or ‘ȝhe’ and ‘nay’?
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1667 : Thogh the world had sworn The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay, Yet somtyme it shal fallen.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.297 : He folwede þe kynges wille and his ȝee and nay in al manere wise.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)497 : How sholde a juge eyther parti leve For ye or nay withouten any preve?
- a1450(?1400) In blossemed buske (Dgb 102)28 : I plese my lord at bed and bord…And fede hem forth with nay and ȝee.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.230 : Ȝif þu wilt þat men leuyn þe be Ȝa & Nay, vse þe to spekyn trewly.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)9/13 : Ne sweriȝeð, naiðer ne be heuene ne be ierðe, ne bie nan oðer ðing bute ia, ia, næi, nai.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.5.37 : Neither thou shalt swere by thin heued…but be ȝoure word Ȝea, ȝea, Nay, nay.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jas.5.12 : Nyle ȝe swere, nether bi heuene…nethir bi what euere other ooth, But be ȝoure word Ȝhe, ȝhe, Nay, nay, that ȝe fallen not vndir doom.
- c1450 Dives & P.(Lchf 35)1.32 : ‘Ȝe truly’ and ‘Nay truly’ be none othes.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.243 : Letith ȝour word ben ‘Ȝa, ȝa, Nay, nay,’ as Crist techith ȝou…so þat ‘Ȝa’ & ‘Nay’ ben seyd with lownesse & reuerence aftir þat þe persone is þat ȝe spekyn to.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)113/31 : Þer was no man þat cowthe swere non oþyr oth but ȝey and nay.
d
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.239 : In Almanye…is her speche, as þe gospel techich Ȝo & Nen, þat is Ȝa & Nay in Englych.