yet English · revision 1820

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /jɛt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|yet]], also [[m|enm|yit]],^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) [[inh|ang|ġīet]], [[m|ang|ġīeta]], also [[m|ang|ġȳt]] and [[m|ang|ġēta]],^(SOED 2002)^(Liberman 2008)^(MWU 2024) an Anglo-Frisian word whose only close cognate is [[ofs|iēta]] (also [[m|ofs|ēta]], [[m|ofs|īta]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Most dictionaries call it of unknown origin;^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004) Etymonline suggests a link with the pronominal stem [[ine-pro|*i-]].^(Etymonline) It has long been taken for an old compound,^(Liberman 2008) and Weekley and Skeat compared German [[m|de|jetzt|t=now]], from Middle High German [[m|gmh|iezuo]].^(Weekley 1921)^(Skeat 1911) Liberman, following Berneker, reconstructs a protoform *iu-ta, from *iu “already” and an intensifying particle *-ta, with ''ġēta'' from a parallel *ē-ta.^(Liberman 2008) He adds [[gml|jetto]] and Dutch [[m|nl|ooit|t=ever]] to the relatives and rejects the Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Welsh words cited in older dictionaries.^(Liberman 2008) Other Germanic languages express the sense with descendants of [[gem-pro|*noh-]], such as German [[m|de|noch]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Besides, also (about 725, in ''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Barnhart's dates show the order of the Old English senses: “besides, also” (about 725), “at last, ultimately” (before 899) and “till now, thus far” (about 1000).^(Barnhart 1988) The OED also records ''yet'' strengthening a comparative (''yet more'') from about 888.^(OED 1989) The conjunction “nevertheless, but” developed from the adverb before 1200.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) Liberman explains the short vowel of ''yet'' by the word's frequent lack of stress in the sentence; the old form ''yit'' survives in dialect.^(Liberman 2008) The Anglian synonyms ''gēna'' and ''gīena'' did not survive into Middle English.^(Liberman 2008) A rare adjective, “still continuing” (''the yet ruler''), is recorded from 1606.^(MWU 2024) In North America, ''yet'' at the end of a sentence as an ironic intensifier imitates Yiddish ''noch''.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''ġīet'', besides, also (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 888 – strengthening a comparative, “even more”.^(OED 1989)^(Liberman 2008)

+ * before 899 – at last, ultimately.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – till now, thus far.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – conjunction, nevertheless, but.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1606 – adjective, still continuing.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Up to now; so far: ''they're not home yet''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+ # At this time, as opposed to later: ''we can't stop yet''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # At some future time; eventually: ''he may yet change his mind''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # In addition: ''yet another helping''.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Even, still more: ''a yet sadder tale''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # Nevertheless: ''young yet wise''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # But at the same time; despite this.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[still]]

+ * [[even]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In formal style, ''yet'' meaning “up to now” goes with the present perfect (''he hasn't started yet'') rather than the simple past (''he didn't start yet'').^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}