SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

1

ye

pronoun \ ˈyē \

Definition of ye

: you 1 —used originally only as a plural pronoun of the second person in the subjective case and now used especially in ecclesiastical or literary language and in various English dialects

See ye defined for English-language learners

See ye defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of ye

Middle English, from Old English gē; akin to Old High German ir you — more at you

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

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2

ye

definite article \ yē , yə ; orig same as ¹the \

Definition of ye

archaic

: the

Ye Olde Gifte Shoppe

Origin and Etymology of ye

alteration of Middle English þe the, from Old English þē; from the use of the letter y by printers and scribes of late Middle English to represent þ (th) of earlier manuscripts

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1551

See Words from the same year

YE Defined for Kids

ye

pronoun \ ˈyē \

Definition of ye for Students

: you 1

Hint: Ye is a very old word that still appears in books and sayings from long ago. People use it today to imitate that old way of speaking.

Learn More about ye

See words that rhyme with ye Spanish Central: Translation of ye

Seen and Heard

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WORD OF THE DAY

grudging

play

unwilling or reluctant

BROWSE DICTIONARY

yday

ydg

ye

yea

yeah

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