Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Ye?

\Ye\ ([th][=e]), an old method of printing the article the (AS. [thorn]e), the ``y'' being used in place of the Anglo-Saxon thorn ([thorn]). It is sometimes incorrectly pronounced y[=e]. See {The}, and {Thorn}, n., 4.
\Y"["e]\ ([=e]"e), n.; pl. {Y["e]n} ([=e]"en). An eye. [Obs.] From his y["e]n ran the water down. --Chaucer.
\Ye\ (y[=e]), pron. [OE. ye, [yogh]e, nom. pl., AS. ge, g[imac]; cf. OS. ge, g[=i], OFries. g[=i], [=i], D. gij, Dan. & Sw. i, Icel. [=e]r, OHG. ir, G. ihr, Goth. jus, Lith. jus, Gr. "ymei^s, Skr. yuyam. [root]189.] The plural of the pronoun of the second person in the nominative case. Ye ben to me right welcome heartily. --Chaucer. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified. --1 Cor. vi. 11. This would cost you your life in case ye were a man. --Udall. Note: In Old English ye was used only as a nominative, and you only as a dative or objective. In the 16th century, however, ye and you became confused and were often used interchangeably, both as nominatives and objectives, and you has now superseded ye except in solemn or poetic use. See {You}, and also the first Note under {Thou}. Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye. --Shak. I come, kind gentlemen, strange news to tell ye. --Dryden.
\Ye\ (y[=a]), adv. [See {Yea}.] Yea; yes. [Obs.] --Chaucer.