adv. & n.
--adv.
1. equivalent to an affirmative sentence: the answer to your question is affirmative, it is as you say or as I have said, the statement etc. made is correct, the request or command will be complied with, the negative statement etc. made is not correct.
2 (in answer to a summons or address) an acknowledgement of one's presence.
--n. an utterance of the word yes.
Phrases and idioms:
say yes grant a request or confirm a statement. yes?
1. indeed? is that so? 2 what do you want? yes and a form for introducing a stronger phrase (he came home drunk -- yes, and was sick). yes and no that is partly true and partly untrue. yes-man (pl. -men) colloq. a weakly acquiescent person.
Etymology: OE gese, gise, prob. f. gia sie may it be (gia is unrecorded)