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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ȝis, Ȝe(i)s, adv. Also: yis, ȝhis, yhis, ȝys, yes, ȝais, ȝhus. [ME and e.m.E. ȝise (c1200), ȝuse (Layamon), ȝes (Ancr. R.), yus, ȝeis (both Cursor M.), ȝes (c1315), ȝis (c1320), yis (Chaucer), yes (Malory), OE ᵹése, ᵹíse, ᵹýse.]

1. As a simple affirmative. a. = Ȝa adv. 1 a. b. = Ȝa adv. 1 b. c. Answering a question involving a negative.a. 1375 Barb. iv 470 (see Ȝa adv.1 a).
Ȝhis a1500 Seven S. 2196.
Is ony remeid or medicyne … Outwith the ȝettis that I mycht se Ȝeis quod the childb. 1375 Barb. iv 484.
‘Wald yow me wis To that place … I sall reward ye' … 'Yhis' … 'I will blythly Ga with ȝow' a1500 Henr. Fab. 1979.
‘Schir,’ said the foxe, ‘ȝe knaw … thair will na beist abyde me' … 'Ȝis,' quod the volff a1500 Lanc. 3404.
‘I have no caus to dred,’ ‘Ȝis … Bot apone fut quhill ȝe ar fechtand here … I sal … Be yhour defens'c. 1375 Barb. ix 84.
Trow ȝe nocht than that thai Sall wencusyt in thar hartis be. Ȝis [C. Ȝhus] sall thai 1460 Hay Alex. 729.
‘Hes thow nane vther knawleging of me?’ ‘Ȝis … I knaw rycht weill a thing [etc.]' a1500 Henr. Fab. 1431.
‘Knew thow not weill I wes baith lord and king Off beistis all?’ ‘Ȝes'[B., H. ‘Ȝis'] quod the mous, ‘I knaw’ 1551 Hamilton Cat. 34.
Is thair yit na other plaig of God quhilk He schoris to the brekaris of His lawis? Yis, trewlie [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II 57/21.
Suld thair be, heirfor, in the Kirk of Christ na incres of religioun? Ȝis, lat incres be hadd 1588 King Cat. 42b.
Ar thair nocht besydis the tables of the ten commandiments vther commandiments also to be obseruit be Christians? Ȝis trewlie 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi 255.
Was not the hand of the Almighty … able also to drowne their … plaines with water? Yes and doubtlesse yes

2. As an expression of opposition to a stated or implied criticism, or contradiction of a negative assertion. 1375 Barb. ix 231.
‘Quhat thynk ȝe thusgat to far To fycht and nocht ȝeit coweryt ar.' ‘Ȝhis', said the king, … 'Thar bost has maid me haile & fer' a1500 Lanc. 514.
‘We wat not what it shal signefye Wich causith ws, we can it not furth say.’ ‘Yis’, quod the king, ‘as lykith yow ye may’ c1475 Wall. viii 1291.
‘Madeym, that may nocht be,’ … 'Ȝeis', said the queyne a1500 Seven S. 1221.
Schir I am dredand That na woman get may I For ȝe ar suspect of missalry Ȝeis said the king for gret reward 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 186.
Quha suld haue firme esperance in this … Certes, nane. Sum hes! No wicht? Surelie, ȝis [L. ȝys] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 433 (B).
‘Quhat can I help … Ȝe ken richt weill I am na medcynnair.' ‘Ȝis [Ch. Ȝes] … thocht he war nevir so seik I wait ȝe beir his helth in to ȝour breik'

3. As an interrogative, reinforcing a previous question.1570 Sempill in Sat. P. xii 69.
Is this ȝour ferme religioun? ȝais? ȝais?