# A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary (4th edition)/Dictionary/Y

☞ (559). F1ate (73), f2ar (77), f3all (83), f4at (81); m1e (93), m2et (95); p1ine (105), p2in (107); n1o (162), m2ove (164), n3or (167), n4ot (163); t1ube (171), t2ub (172), b3ull (173); 3o2il (299); p3o3und (313); thin (466), this (469).
Y
Yacht, y4ot. s. (356)
A small ship for carrying passengers.
☞ This word is pronounced as I have marked it, by Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Scott, W. Johnston, Mr. Perry, Mr. Nares, and Mr. Smith; Dr. Kenrick pronounces it yat, rhyming with hat; and Mr. Barclay yaut, rhyming with nought.
Yam, y4am. s.
A root that grows in America and the South-Sea Islands.—Mason.
Yard, y2ard. s. (78)
Enclosed ground adjoining to a house; a measure of three feet; the supports of the sails of a ship.
Yare, y1are. a.
Ready, dextrous, eager.
Yarely, y1are′l1e. ad.
Dextrously, skilfully.
Yarn, y2arn. s. (78)
Spun wool, woollen thread.
Yarrow, y2ar′r1o. s. (81)
A plant which grows wild on the dry banks, and is used in medicine.
Yawl, y3awl. s. (219)
A little vessel belonging to a ship, for convenience of passing to and from it.
To Yawn, y3awn. v. n. (219)
To gape, to have the mouth opened involuntarily; to open wide; to express desire by yawning.
Yawn, y3awn. s.
Oscitation; gape, hiatus.
Yawning, y3awn′2ing. a. (410)
Sleeping, slumbering.
Yclad, 1e-kl2ad′.
Part. for Clad. Clothed.
Ycleped, 1e-kl2ept′.
Called, termed, named.
Ye, y1e.
The solemn nominative plural of Thou.
Yea, y1e. ad. (227)
Yes.
☞ Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Scott, W. Johnston, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Fry, pronouncr this word so as to rhyme with nay, pay, etc. But Steele or Brightland, Dr. Jones who wrote The new Art of Spelling in Queen Anne's time, Dr. Kenrick and Mr. Perry, pronounce it like the pronoun ye. Though so many are against me, I do not hesitate to pronounce the latter mode the best; first, as it is more agreeable to the general sound of the diphthong; next, as it is more related to its familiar substitute yes; and lastly, unless my memory greatly fails me, because it is always so pronounced when contrasted with nay; as m that precept of the Gospel, "Let your Communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay."
To Yean, y1ene. v. n. (227)
To bring young. Used of sheep.
Yeanling, y1ene′l2ing. s. (410)
The young of sheep.
Year, y1ere. s. (227)
Twelve months: it is often used plurally, without a plural termination; in the plural, old age.
Yearling, y1ere′l2ing. a. (410)
Being a year old.
Yearly, y1ere′l1e. a.
Annual, happening every year, lasting a year.
Yearly, y1ere′l1e. ad.
Annually.
To Yearn, y2ern. v. n. (234)
To feel great internal uneasiness.
To Yearn, y2ern. v. a.
To grieve, to vex.
Yelk. y2elk. s.
[Gealkewe, yellow, Saxon.] The yellow part of the egg.
☞ It is commonly pronounced, says Johnson, and often written Yolk. To which we may add, that when the word is so written, the l is silent, and the word pronounced Yoke. But Johnson seems justly to have preferred the former mode of writing and pronouncing this word, as more agreeable both to etymology and the best usage.
To Yell, y2ell. v. n.
To cry out with horrour and agony.
Yell, y2ell. s.
A cry of horrour.
Yellow, y2el′l1o. a.
Being of a bright glaring colour, as gold.
☞ Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Nares, Mr. Scott, Dr. Jones, and Mr. Fry, pronounce this word as if written yallow, rhyming with tallow. But Dr. Kenrick, W. Johnston, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Perry, preserve the e in its pure sound, and rhyme the word with mellow. The latter mode is, in my opinion, clearly ihe best, both as more agreeable to analogy, and the best usage; for I am much deceived if the former pronunciation does not border closely on the vulgar.
Yellowboy, y2el′l1o-b3o1e. s.
A gold coin. A very low word.
Yellowhammer, y2el′l1o-h4am-m2ur. s.
A bird.
Yellowish, y2el′l1o-2ish. a.
Approaching to yellow.
Yellowishness, y2el′l1o-2ish-n2es. s.
. The quality of approaching to yellow.
Yellowness, y2el′l1o-n2es. s.
The quality of being yellow: it is used in Shakespeare for jealousy.
Yellows, y2el′l1oze. s.
A disease in horses.
To Yelp, y2elp. v. n.
To bark as a beagle hound after his prey.
A man of a small estate in land, a farmer, a gentleman farmer; it seem to have been anciently a kind of ceremonious title given to soldiers, whence we have Yeomen of the guard; it was probably a freeholder not advanced to the rank of a gentleman.
☞ Junius gives us a great variety of derivations of this word, but seems most to approve of that from gaeman in the old Frisick, signifying a countryman or villager; and this word is derived farther by Junius from the Greek γαια, γαια, γη, which he tells us does not only signify ihe earth in general, but any great portion of land. Skinner says it may be derived from the Anglo-Saxon Gemaene, or the Teutonic Gemein, a common man, or one of the commonalty; or from Eoweman, a shepherd; from Goodman, an appellation given to inferior people; from Gemana, a companion; from Geongman, a young man; from Jeman, an ordinary man, or any body, like the Spanish Hidalgo; but he prefers its derivation from the Anglo-Saxon Guma, a painful or laborious man.
But however widely etymologists are divided in the derivation of this word, orthöepists are not less different in their pronunciation of it. Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Scott, Mr.Coote, (author of the Elements of Grammar,) Steele's Grammar, (published in Queen Anne's time,) Mr. Mr. Barclay, Mr. Smith, and Buchanan, pronounce it with the diphthong short, as if written yĕmman; Dr. Kenrick pronounces it as if written yŭmman; Mr. Elphinston, (who quotes Langham, the famous reformer of orthography in Queen Elizabeth's time, for the same pronunciation,) sounds the eo like ee: and Dr. Jones, the author of the New Art of Spelling in Queen Anne's time, pronounces it in the same manner. To which we may add Ben Jonson, who says, that yeoman, people, and jeopardy, were truer written yéman, péple, jépardy. But W. Johnston, Mr. Perry, Entick, and Fry, pronounce the eo like long open o, as if written yōman: and this last appears to me to be the most received pronunciation. It is that which we constantly hear applied to the King's body guard, and it is that which has always been the pronunciation on the Stage; an authority which, in this case, may not, perhaps, improperly be called the best echo of the public voice. I well remember hearing Mr. Garrick pronounce the word in this manner, in a speech in King Lear: "Tell me, fellow, is a madman a gentleman, or a yōman?"
Yeomanry, y1o′m4an-r1e. s. (260)
The collective body of yeomen.
To Yerk, y2erk. v. a.
To throw out or move with a spring.
Yerk, y2erk. s.
A quick motion.
To Yern, y2ern. v. a.
See Yearn.
Yes, y2is. ad. (101)
A term of affirmation; the affirmative particle opposed to No.
☞ This word is worn into a somewhat slenderer sound than what is authorised by tie orthography; but e and i are frequently interchangeable, and few changes can be better established than this. W. Johnston and Mr. Perry are the only orthöepists who give the sound of the vowels, that do not mark this change; but Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Scott, Dr. Kenrick, Mr. Nares, Mr. Smith, and Dr. Jones, in his New Art of Spelling, confirm this change, and rhyme it with hiss, miss, bliss, etc.—See Been and Dispatch
The foam, spume, or flower of beer in fermentation; barm; the spume on a troubled sea.
☞ Dr. Johnson has very properly spelled this word yest, from the Saxon gest, and not yeast as we sometimes see it; and this spelling decides its pronunciation. Dr. Jones spells it yeast, and gives the diphthong its long sound; Mr. Nares pronounces the word in the same manner, but spells it yest; Dr. Kenrick spells it yest, but rhymes it with mist; Mr. Barclay pronounces it yeest; Mr. Perry writes it yēast and yĕst; but Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Smith, write it as Dr. Johnson has done, and pronounce it as I have done; and I think not only more agreeable to analogy, which forbids us to pronounce e long, when followed by st in the same syllable, (see Lest,) but, if I mistake not, more consonant to polite usage. The vulgar do not only pronounce the diphthong long, but sink the y, and reduce the word to east.
Yesty, y2es′t1e. a.
Frothy, spumy.
Yester, y2es′t2ur. a.
Being next before the present day.
Yesterday, y2es′t2ur-d1a. s.
The day last past, the next day before to-day.
☞ Though yes, from its continual use, is allowably worn into the somewhat easier sound of yis, there is no reason why yesterday should adopt the same change; and though I cannot pronounce this change vulgar, since Mr. Sheridan, Dr. Kenrick, Mr. Nares, and Mr. Scott have adopted it, I do not hesitate to pronounce the regular sound given by W. Johnston as the more correct, and agreeable to the best usage.
Yesternight, y2es′t2ur-n1ite. s.
The night before this night.
Yet, y2et. conj.
Nevertheless, notwithstanding, however.
☞ The e in this word is frequently changed by incorrect speakers into i; but though this change is agreeable to the best and most established usage in the word yes; in yet it is the mark of incorrectness, and vulgarity.
Dr. Kenrick is the only orthöepist who gives any countenance to this incorrectness, by admitting it as a second pronunciation; but Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Scott, W. Johnston, Mr. Perry, and Mr. Smith, give the regular sound only.
Yet, y2et. ad.
Beside, over and above; still, the state still remaining the same; once again; at this time, so soon, hitherto, with a negative before it; at least; it notes increase or extension of the sense of the words to which it is joined; still, in a new degree; even, after all; hitherto.
Yew, y2o2o. s.
A tree of tough wood.
To Yield, y1e1eld. v. a. (275)
To produce, to give in return for cultivation or labour; to produce in general; to afford, to exhibit; to give as claimed of right; to allow, to permit; to emit, to expire; to resign, to give up; to surrender.
To Yield, y1e1eld. v. n.
To give up the conquest, to submit; to comply with any person; to comply with things; to concede, to admit, to allow, not to deny; to give place as inferior in excellence or any other quality.
Yielder, y1e1eld′2ur. s.
One who yields.
Yoke, y1oke. s.
The bandage placed on the neck of draught oxen; a mark of servitude, slavery; a chain, a link, a bond; a couple, two, a pair.
To Yoke, y1oke. v. a.
To bind by a yoke or carriage; to join or couple with another; to enslave, to subdue; to restrain, to confine.
Yoke-elm, y1oke′2elm. s.
A tree.
Yokefellow, y1oke′f2el-l1o. Yokemate, y1oke′m1ate. s.
Companion in labour; mate, fellow.
Yolk, y1oke. s.
The yellow part of an egg.—See Yelk.
Yon, y4on. Yonder, y4on′d2ur. (98) a.
Being at a distance within view.
☞ There is a vulgar pronunciation of this word in London, as if written yander. This cannot be too carefully avoided.
Yore, y1ore. ad.
Long; of old time, long ago.
You, y2o2o. pron. (8) (315)
The oblique of Ye; it is used in the nominative; it is the ceremonial word for the second person singular, and is always used, except in solemn language.
☞ A very common errour in reading and speaking, arises from pronouncing the personal pronoun you in the same manner, whether it is in the nominative or in an oblique case. It is certain that you and my when they are contradistinguished from other pronouns, and consequently emphatical, are always pronounced with their full open sound, rhyming with view and high; but it is as certain, if we observe correct pronunciation, that when they are not emphatical by being opposed to other words, and do not take the lead in a sentence, they are sounded like ye and me; rhyming with sea. Thus, for example, "You told him all the truth." Here the word you is a nominative case, that is, it goes before the word denoting action, and must therefore be pronounced full and open so as to rhyme with view. In this sentence also, "He told you before be told any one else." The word you is in the oblique case, or comes after the word denoting action; but as ii is emphatical by being contradistinguished from any one else, it preserves its full open sound as before. But in the sentence, "Though he told you, he had no right to tell you." Here the pronoun you is in the oblique case, or follows the word denoting action, and having no distinctive emphasis invariably falls into the sound of the antiquated form of this pronoun, ye, and as if written, "Though he told ye, he had no right to tell ye." See the word My.
Perhaps it was this pronunciation of the pronoun you when in an oblique case, which induced Shakespeare and Milton, sometimes to write it ye: though as Dr. Lowih observes very ungrammatically:
"The more shame for ye, holy men I thought ye." Henry VIII.
"His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both." Milton's Par. Lost, book. ii. v. 734.
Young, y2ung. a.
Being in the first part of life, not old; ignorant, weak; it is sometimes applied to vegetable life.
Young, y2ung. s. (314)
The offspring of animals collectively.
Youngish, y2ung′2ish. a. (381)
Somewhat young.
Youngling, y2ung′l2ing. s. (410)
Any creature in the first part of life.
Youngly, y2ung′l1e. ad. (381)
Early in life; ignorantly, weakly.
Youngster, y2ung′st2ur. Younker, y2ungk′2ur. (98). s.
Ludicrously, a young person.
Your, y2o2or. pron.
Belonging to you: Yours is used when the substantive goes before or is understood, as, This is your book, This book is yours.
☞ This word is nearly under the same predicament as the pronoun My. When the emphasis is upon this word, it is always pronounced full and open, like the noun Ewer; as, "The moment I had read Your letter I sat down to write Mine;" but when it is not emphatical, it generally sinks into yur, exactly like the last syllable of Law-yer; as, "I had just answered yur first letter as yur last arrived." Here, if we were to say, "I had just answered your first letter as your last arrived," with your sounded full and open like ewer, as in the former sentence, every delicate ear would be offended. This obscure sound of the possessive pronoun your always takes place when it is used to signify any species of persons or things in an indeterminate sense. Thus Addison, speaking of those metaphors which professional men most commonly fall into, says, "Your men of business usually have recourse to such instances as are too mean and familiar." Spectator. No. 421.
Yourself, y2ur-s2elf′. s.
You, even you; ye, not others.
☞ The pronunciation of your in this word is a confirmation of the observations on the foregoing word.
Youth, y2o2oth. s.
The part of life succeeding to childhood and adolescence; a young man; young men.
Youthful, y2o2oth′f3ul. a.
Young; suitable to the first part of life; vigorous as in youth.
Youthfully, y2o2oth′f3ul-1e. ad.
In a youthful manner.
Youthy, y2o2oth′1e. a. (381)
Young, youthful.