Origin and history of yes

word expressing affirmation or assent, Middle English ye, from Old English gea (West Saxon), ge (Anglian) "so, yes," from Proto-Germanic *ja-, *jai-, a word of affirmation, reconstructed to be from PIE *yam-, from pronominal stem *i- (see yon). Germanic cognates include German, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish ja.

As an adverb, "certainly, truly," in Old English. As a noun, "affirmation, affirmative vote," from early 13c. Also from early 13c as a mere emphatic introductory word. By late 14c. as "namely," introducing matter meant to clarify or reinforce.

seventh letter of the alphabet, invented by the Romans; a modified gamma introduced c. 250 B.C.E. to restore a dedicated symbol for the "g" sound. For fuller history, see C.

Before the vowels -e-, -i-, and -y-, Old English initial g- changed its sound and is represented in Modern English by consonantal y- (year, yard, yellow, young, yes, etc.). In get and give, however, the initial g- seems to have been preserved by Scandinavian influence. Also see gu-.

As a movie rating in the U.S., 1966, standing for general (adj.). In physics, as an abbreviation of gravity, by 1785.