Where does “yea” come from?
Yea comes from Middle English yea, from Old English gēa, a affirmative particle of uncertain ultimate origin.
yea (English): Yes; Thus, so; Or even, or more like, nay
Definitions
- Yes; Thus, so; Or even, or more like, nay
Ancestry of “yea”, step by step
yea traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English yë
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | yë | Alternative form of eie |
| 2 | Old English | ġē | ye |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | jahw | and, also |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | -hw | and; Forms distributives from interrogatives |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -hwe | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -kʷe | and; Forms distributives from interrogatives |
via English yeah
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | yeah | Yes; Expressing joy, celebration, glee, etc;... |
| 2 | English | yes | Used to show agreement or acceptance; Used to... |
| 3 | Middle English | yes | Alternative form of is; plural of ye; Alternative... |
| 4 | Old English | ġīese | "yes"; literally, "so be it" |