▪ I. yield, n.
(jiːld)
Forms: 1 ᵹeld, ᵹield, ᵹild, ᵹyld, ᵹeold, 2 ȝæild, 2–3 ȝield, 2–5 ȝeld, 4 eild, yilde, 4–5 ȝeild, yeild, 4–6 yeld, 5 ȝelde, yelde, 6 yalde, 6–7 yeeld(e, 6– yield.
[In senses 1–3 OE. ᵹield, etc., str. neut. (cf. guild etym.) = OFris. geld, ield (Fris. jild, jil), OS. geld (senses as in OE.), MLG., MDu. gelt payment, money (Du. geld money), OHG., MHG. gelt (senses as in OE.), (G. geld money), ON. gjald (Sw. gäld, Da. gjeld), Goth. gild tax: f. stem of *gelðan (see next). In senses 4–6 directly f. yield v.]
† 1. a. Payment; a sum of money paid or exacted, as a tribute, tax, etc.: spec. = geld n. Obs.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark Introd. 4 De reddendo caesaris tributo, of ᵹyld æs cæseres ᵹeselenne. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1013 Bead þa Sweᵹen full ᵹild & metsunga to his here þone winter. Ibid. 1087 ælc unriht ᵹeold he forbead. a 1154 Ibid. 1137 Hi læiden ᵹæildes on þe tunes. c 1200 Ormin 10170 Þeȝȝ haffdenn wikenn off þe king To sammnenn hise ȝeldess. c 1205 Lay. 7194 Romleode..þe..ne dursten hider liðen Axien king of þissen londe Þat he ȝefue ȝeld in to Rome. a 1300 Cursor M. 27831 Strenth, þat lauerding agh to meild, Þat o þair men tas wrangwis yeild. 13.. K. Alis. 2959 (Linc. Inn MS.) Ȝef þow wold aske suche a ȝeld Com and haue hit in þe feild. 1424 Sc. Acts Jas. I (1814) II. 4 It is accordit þ{supt} a ȝelde be raisit þ{supt} is to say xijd of ilk pvnde. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 652 That the lady..shold hold and haue..all yelde and all quarels and exaccions fre and quyte. 1494 Burgh Rec. Edin. (1869) I. 67 And this ȝeild to be gadderit yeirly anes in the yeir. 1531 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 329 Euery mannys wief, after the deth of hur husbond, beyng a taillo{supr}, shall kepe as many servaunts as they wille,..so she bere scotte and lotte, yeve and yeld, w{supt} the occupacion. 1582 Shuttleworths' Acc. (Chetham Soc.) 6 The constablye of Sharpelles for a yalde vij{supd}. |
† b. Payment for loss or injury, compensation.
| 601–4 Laws of Ethelbert xxviii, Ᵹif man inne feoh ᵹenimeþ, se man iii ᵹelde ᵹebete. a 1225 Ancr. R. 58 Strong ȝeld is her mid alle & Godes dom is, & his heste, þet heo hit ȝelde allegate. c 1500 Priests of Peblis in Pinkerton Scot. Poems (1792) I. 29 Upon the day of Dome, For mans body thair to give ane yeild. |
† 2. The offering of sacrifice to a deity; worship.
| a 900 Cynewulf Juliana 146 Þu goda ussa ᵹield forhogdest. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 212 Þis ilke ȝeld, þet tu dest to deouelen. |
† 3. Reward, recompense; retribution. Obs.
| a 1200 Moral Ode 45 (Trin. Coll. MS.) He deð his aihte an siker stede þe hit sent to heueriche, þar ne þarf he habben care of here ne of ȝielde. a 1225 Ancr. R. 376 Þe þolemode þolie bitter one hwule uor he schal sone..habben ȝeld of blisse. |
4. a. The action of yielding crops or other products, production; that which is produced, produce; esp. amount of produce.
| c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 216 Eek hillis yeld is Wel gretter grayn and fewer, then in feeld is. a 1483 Liber Niger in Househ. Ord. (1790) 69 Beyng in some yeres, or in sundrye countreys, thynne wheete, or thycke husked, or bettyr and heavyer of yelde, some tyme whiter flower or browner. 1543 Grafton Contn. Harding 157 After haruest for so muche as wheat..was of so smal yelde, it was solde for .xii.s. and .xiii.s. iiii.d. a quarter. 1563 T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 126 The yong plants ought daily to be plucked vp from the old, for feare of hindring the yeeld of the old. 1577 Googe Heresbach's Husb. 17 b, To knowe the nature of euery grounde, Iscomachus in Xenophon, dooth wyll you to marke wel the plantes and the yeeld of the Countrey. 1611 R. Fenton Usurie ii. xiii. 91 That increase which God gaue by the yeeld of the earth and liuing creatures. 1773 Burke Lett., to Marq. Rockingham (1844) I. 445 The wheat was large in show upon the ground, but the yield in flour is not extraordinary. 1799 A. Young Agric. Linc. 213 His yield 12 guineas an acre. 1854 Ronalds & Richardson Chem. Technol. (ed. 2) I. 131 The coking lasts about twenty-four hours, and the yield of coke in the ovens averages 67 per cent. 1863 Fawcett Pol. Econ. iii. xv. 489 Since the year 1850, the average of the yield of gold in Australia has been 10,000,000l. 1868 G. W. Dasent Jest & Earnest (1873) II. 381 He had a farm just outside the town on the yield of which he lived. 1893 Traill Soc. Eng. Introd. p. xlviii, Their earliest trade..is..in the surface products of the earth—in corn or wine, in the yields of the olive-grove or the orchard. |
b. The amount obtained from some financial transaction, impost, etc. (e.g. of interest from an investment, of revenue from a tax).
| 1877 R. Giffen Stock Exch. Securities 152 The higher the yield of a security. 1884 Manch. Exam. 12 Sept. 5/1 A tax..which, moreover, is considerably reduced in its yield by the cost of collection. 1912 Times 19 Dec. 15/4 The present value of the three Central London stocks..affords a yield of over 5 per cent. |
† 5. The action of yielding or giving in; surrender, submission. Obs. rare.
| 1600 W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 193 Their consent, yeeld and concurrence. Ibid. 351 No such yeelde, as the Iesuiticall faction report we haue made. |
6. The action of yielding or giving way, as under pressure or tension, and esp. under a stress greater than the yield stress; also, the stage in the progressive stressing and deformation of a body when the yield stress is reached.
| 1889 Telegr. Jrnl. & Electr. Rev. 20 Dec. 707/1 It was concluded that the increase of [elastic resistance] during ‘yield’ is the same for all the specimens. 1913 Proc. R. Soc. A. LXXXVIII. 464 Yield occurred..while there was still a large margin of elasticity left in the side bars. 1925 J. Case Strength of Materials xxxiv. 538 The drop of stress which occurs at yield with materials like wrought-iron and mild steel. 1967 J. G. Ramsay Folding & Fracturing of Rocks vi. 314 The stress conditions which initiate plastic yield. 1981 C. Hall Polymer Materials iii. 73 The search for improved impact performance has more recently stimulated a similar systematic study of yield and fracture processes in polymers. |
7. Special Comb.: yield table Forestry, a table giving (usu. with other information) the average value or volume of a species of timber that can be expected from unit area of woodland each successive year.
| 1888 W. Weise (title) Yield tables for the Scotch pine. 1953 H. L. Edlin Forester's Handbk. xiv. 222 Yield tables..show the likely rate of growth and timber yield of tree crops of a certain kind of tree, grown in a certain country. 1980 Forestry LIII. 23 These regressions were solved for the appropriate values of volume or volume increment from published yield tables for this species. |
Add: [4.] c. Chem. The proportion of the theoretical maximum amount obtainable (from some process or reaction) which is actually obtained.
| 1924 C. Hollins Synthesis Nitrogen Ring Compounds vii. 203 The yield of imino-compound (IV) was very small. 1938 C. Tyler Chem. Engin. Econ. (ed. 2) ix. 166 In a batch distillation process, it was found that the cost of the operation at 98 per cent yield was double the cost at 92 per cent yield. 1965 W. F. Luder et al. Gen. Chem. (ed. 3) iv. 103 A student adds an excess of sulfuric acid to 51.45 grams of sodium bromide and finds that 27.25 grams of hydrogen bromide are produced. What is the percentage yield? 1972 [see perrhenate n. s.v. perrhenic a.]. |
▪ II. yield, v.
(jiːld)
Forms: see below.
[Com. Teut. strong v.: OE. (WS.) ᵹieldan, (Angl. & Kent.) ᵹeldan, pa. tense ᵹeald, ᵹuldon, pa. pple. ᵹolden = OFris. gelda, ielda (WFris. jilde, EFris. jêlde, NFris. jill), OS. geldan, MDu. g(h)elden (Du. gelden), OHG. geltan, (MHG., G. gelten), ON. gjalda, Goth. -gildan (in compounds fragildan, usgildan to compensate):—OTeut. *gelðan, of which the ultimate relations are uncertain.
This verb has had a remarkable sense-development in English owing to its having been used as an equivalent of L. reddere and F. rendre, or their compounds. In some of the related languages the word has shown tendencies to develop in the same directions, but the only generally surviving senses on the Continent are ‘to be worth, to be valid, to concern, apply to’, which are not represented at all in the English word.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. a. inf. and pres. stem. (α) 1 ᵹieldan, ᵹeldan, 2–5 ȝelde(n, 3–7 yeld, 4 ȝielde, ȝeilde, yeilde, yhelde, (also 8 Sc.) ȝield, 4–5 ȝhelde, (also 7 Sc.) ȝeeld(e, 4–6 ȝeld, yelde, 4–7 ȝeild, 4–7 yeild, 5 ȝheylde, eylde, elde, 5–7 yeeld(e, 6 ealde, 6–7 yeald, 7 yielde, eyld, 4, 6– yield.
| c 825–a 900 [see B. 1–7]. c 1200 Ormin 19903 Whanne & hu He wollde hiss dere kemmpe Hiss mede ȝeldenn. c 1250 yeld [see B. 6]. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6369 Icholle wel þin mede ȝelde. 13.. Cursor M. 110 (Cott.) Scho sal þam ȝeld a hundreth fald. Ibid. 260 Traistli acuntes sal we yeild. Ibid. 28738 Resun to yield well better is O merci þan of cruelnes. 13.. Ibid. 19472 (Edinb.) To þe ihesu Ȝield I mi gaste. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 5503 Acount to yhelde of þair kepyng. 1375 Barbour Bruce xi. 33 To ȝeld or reskew Strewilling. 1382 Wyclif Isa. xlii. 22 And ther is not that seie, Ȝeeld. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 9792 Darel fast he behelde, And seid, ‘Sir, crist you yelde Of this comyng.’ c 1440 Promp. Parv. 537/1 Ȝeelde þe goost, or deyyn. a 1483 Elde [see B. 10 a]. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.) 169 The high father of heaven I praie To eylde your good deed to daie. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. li. 1, I wil yelde prayse vnto thy name. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 126 b, Twoo so inuincible nacions, which neuer would yeild or bowe. 1572 Yeald [see B. 17 b]. 1598 Sir T. Norreys in Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1887) I. 16 His purpose is not to ealde the posesion. 1605 Shakes. Macb. i. vi. 13 How you shall bid God-eyld vs for your paines. 1611 Mure Misc. Poems i. 25 Ȝeeld to his powar. 1647 H. More Song of Soul iii. App. xix, That light Orb of air..must yielden evermore To phansies beck. 1659 Hammond On Ps. Pref. ¶18 To yeeld him an intire Body of necessary Theology. c 1730 Ramsay Some of the Contents ii, He to best poets skairslie zields in ocht. |
(β) 1 ᵹildan, ᵹyldan, 3–5 ȝulde(n, 4–5 ȝild(e, ȝyld(e, 4–6 yild(e, 6 ild, ylde (in God dild, etc.).
| c 1000 ælfric Exod. xxii. 4 Ᵹif man cucu finde, þæt he stæl..ᵹilde be twifealdon. a 1122 [see B. 1]. c 1205 ȝulden [see B. 1]. a 1300 Cursor M. 28833 Þe pouer man es like þe fild, Þat corn plente is wont to yild. c 1305 in E.E.P. (1862) 58 An heȝere Justise Þat þe schal þe trecherie ȝulde. 1389 ȝyld [see B. 2]. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 80 Ȝild vp þi rewme. 1493 Cov. Leet Bk. 550 Due therfor paying, gyffyng, or ȝilding. 1575 God dylde [see B. 7]. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. vi. 3 That stubborne fort to yilde. 1608 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. Decay 138 God dild you. |
(γ) Sc. 5 ȝauld, 5–6 ȝald, yald.
| c 1450 Sc. Leg. Saints iv. (Jacobus) 142 Þat criste..can vs kene Gud fore ewil to ȝald almene. 1489 Barbour's Bruce x. 824 He suld the castell ȝeld [MS. E. ȝauld] quytly. c 1500 Lancelot 553 He bidis yow your londe Ye yald hyme our. 1513 Douglas æneis x. x. 136 He weltis our, and ȝaldis vp the breith. |
(δ) 5 yolde.
| c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 403 Yolde youe here to me. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 55 Cownsaylenge theyme to yolde vp the cite. c 1482 J. Kay tr. Caoursin's Siege of Rhodes ¶1 (1870), So that they wold knowlege hym as theyre souuerayn: and yerely yold hym a lytyll trybute. |
b. pres. ind. (contracted forms) 2nd sing. 1 ᵹieltst, ᵹiltst, ᵹilst, ᵹyltst, 3–4 ȝelst, yelst. 3rd sing. 1 ᵹielt, ᵹilt, ᵹylt, 2 ȝeelt, 3 ȝilt, ȝeldþ, 3–5 ȝelt, 4–5 yelt, 5 yalte.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xl. §7 ælmihtiᵹ God..ᵹilt ælcum æfter his ᵹewyrhtum. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 231 Elc ȝeelt efter his ȝearnunge. c 1205 Lay. 21071 Nu he me ȝilt [c 1275 ȝelt] mede For mire god dede. a 1225 Ancr. R. 232 Hwoso is siker of sukurs..& ȝelt tauh up his kastel to his wiðerwines. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 100 Ac ssropssire ȝeldþ haluendel to þulke bissopriche iwis. Ibid. 729 Þou ȝelst nou my loue wroþe. 1340 Ayenb. 18 He..þet..yelt him kuead uor guod. Ibid. 38 Vor yef þe vinst and naȝt ne yelst, þou hit stelst. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4904 He chaungith purpos and entente And yalte into somme couente. |
2. a. pa. tense. (α) 1 ᵹeald, 3 ȝeald, 3–4 ȝiald, ȝeld, 3–5 ȝelde, 4 eild, ȝilde, (also 6 Sc.) ȝeild, 4–5 yeld, 4–6 yelde, 5 ȝylde, ȝeelde, 6 Sc. yeild, 7 Sc. yeeld.
| 971 [see B. 5]. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 45 Ich ȝeald þat ich noht ne nam. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 128 Ah se sone ha ȝeald ham swucche ȝeincleppes. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9216 He..ȝeld him is godnesse Þat he dude him. 13.. Cursor M. 9484 (Cott.) Sathanas..To wais seruis straitt he him eild. 13.. Ibid. 6398 (Gött.) Þai ȝeild him ay ful littel thanc. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 95 Þe kyng Ieconias..ȝilde hym..to Nabugodonosor. 14.. Sir Beues 4306 (Pynson) And both in armes yeld vp the gaste. a 1585 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 1024 Ȝit Hope and Curage wan the field, Thocht Dreid and Danger nevir ȝeild. 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix. 418, I yeeld to the Noble mans counsell, and giuing him all dutifull thankes, he sent a guide with mee. |
b. 2nd sing. 1 ᵹulde, 3 ȝulde; 3rd sing. 4 ȝuld(e. pl. 1 ᵹuldon, -an, 3–4 ȝulde(n, 4 ȝuld.
| a 1000 Cædmon's Gen. 2419 Duᵹuðum wlance drihtne ᵹuldon god mid gnyrne. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) cv. 26 [cvi. 36] Sceuccgyldum swyþe ᵹuldan. a 1225 Ancr. R. 406 Þu ȝulde þet tu ouhtest. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 953 Al þe feldes þo wern y-fuld of dede..Saue an vewe þat leye & ȝulde & abide hure deþes stounde. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 77 He ȝelde [MS. γ a ȝuld] vp þe goost. Ibid. 95 (MS. γ) Þeos þat ȝuld [v.r. ȝilde] ham wylfolych [orig. isti qui sponte se dederunt]. Ibid. 269 Whan þe men of þe citee sigh þat þey ȝelde hem self [MS. γ hy ȝulde ham sylf]. |
(β) 3–5 ȝold, ȝolde, yolde, 4 youlde, 4–5 ȝoulde, 4–6 yold.
In the earliest quots. a variant of ȝulde: see α b.
| c 1275 Passion our Lord 61 in O.E. Misc. 39 Vor alle þe gode þat he heom dude, hi yolde him luþre mede. c 1290 Beket 819 in S. Eng. Leg. 130 And þov ne ȝolde me þar-of none a-countes. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3847 & to þe king arthure hom ȝolde ech man þat was wys. Ibid. 11800 Þe castel of penneseie heo ȝolde vp þe kinge. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 307 For hauke siluer he ȝold. 1340–70 Alisaunder 304 Hur ȝates ȝeede þei too & youlden hem soone. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 562 Þe kyng of Denmarke ȝolde hym anone þo. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 187 But aftirward alle went bak, and ȝold hem to the Kyng. c 1482 J. Kay tr. Caoursin's Siege of Rhodes ¶10 (1870), There he kneled downe and yold thankynges..unto God. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. xi. 25 To her yold the flames. |
(γ) Chiefly north. 4–5 (6 Sc.) ȝald, ȝalde, (also 6, 9 Sc.) yald, (4 ȝialde, yalld, yhald); 4–5 yauld, 5 ȝauld, ȝaulde.
| 13.. Cursor M. 1208 (Cott.) Lelli yald he him his teind. 13.. Ibid. 19794 (Edinb.) He hir raisid..And ȝialde hir quic up for þaim alle. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 390 To crist his bodi he ȝald. c 1350 Will. Palerne 3661 Þe kinges sone of spayne..to hire ȝalde. 1375 Barbour Bruce ix. 320 Syne ȝald the castell to the king. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxii. (Laurentius) 496 He..ȝauld þe spryt. c 1400 Destr. Troy 6499 He gird to þe ground, & þe gost yalde. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour lxxx, Whanne it plesed vnto God, he yalde ayen the sight vnto this good man. 1513 Douglas æneis ii. ix. 46 The gaist he ȝald with habundance of blude. 1552 Ȝald [see B. 14 c]. 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 168 The kirk-yard's coffins yald and broke. |
(δ) 4 ȝalt, ȝalte, yalt; 4 ȝelt(e, 5 yelte, yilt.
| c 1300 Seynt Mergrete in Leg. Cath. (1840) 100 He..ȝelt hem her seruise With wel michel wouȝ. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 927 & wele he ȝalt him his while. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 261 Durst non oȝain him kiþe, Bot ȝalt him tour & toun. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 214 Why þat one thef on þe crosse creaunt hym ȝelt. Ibid. xviii. 100 Ȝowre champioun chiualer..Ȝelt [v.rr. ȝelte, yelde, yilt] hym recreaunt. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode iii. xxv. (1869) 150 Whan j sigh that he hadde don euele, he yelte ayen the pens. |
(ε) 4 ȝeldid, yhelded, ȝeilded, 4–5 ȝeldede, yeldid, 5 ȝeldide, yeldyd, yeildyd, yyldyd, 5–6 yelded, 6 yealded, Sc. ȝeildit, yeldit, 6–7 yeelded, 7–8 yeilded, 7– yielded.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter vii. 4 If i ȝeldid ill til ȝeldand til me ill for goed. 1340 ― Pr. Consc. 2272 He yhelded þe gast to God and dyghed. 13.. Cursor M. 696 (Gött.) Alkines thing in diuers wise ȝeilded to Adam þair seruise. c 1440 York Myst. xli. 356 Whose wombe that yeildyd fresh and fayr. 1474 Caxton Chesse ii. v. (1883) 60 They opend the yates and yelded them vnto hym. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 408 He..held wpe his handis to god and ȝeildit the spreit. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 297 He yeelded unto nature, and ended his life. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 241 The Mountaine..of it selfe..yeelded many wilde but pleasant fruits. a 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §30 The King Yeilded. 1874 [see B. 10 b]. |
(ζ) 5 yoldede.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) III. 269 The citesynnes..yoldede the cite. |
3. pa. pple. (α) 1 ᵹolden, 4 yȝolden, ȝoldine, -un, yoldon, -un, 4–5 ȝolden, -yn, (yholden), 4–6 yolden, -in, -yn, 5 y-yolden, (ȝoldyne, ȝholden), 5 (6 Sc.) ȝoldin; 5 ȝoulden, 6 youlden, Sc. ȝowdin, yowdin, 9 Sc. yowden.
| a 900 Kent. Glosses in Wr.-Wülcker 67/9 Et..retribuetur, and bið ᵹolden. a 1000 [see B. 6]. 13.. Cursor M. 23192 (Edinb.) Þar sal be yoldin him his hire. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 1572 Ful iuel ichaue y-ȝolden it þe. a 1340 Hampole Psalter lxiv. 1 Body and saule, sall be ȝolden till þe in ierusalem. 1375 Barbour Bruce x. 804 He set ane sege thar-to stoutly, And lay thair quhill it ȝoldyn was. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4556 Curtesie certeyn dide he me So mych that may not yolden be. c 1450 Brut ii. 492 Þe town of Melun was yholden to þe Kynge. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 67 b/1 Our lord hath yolden the malyce of Nabal on his owen heed. 1513 Douglas æneis i. iii. 9 Quhy mycht I nocht on fieldis of Troy haue deid, And by thi richt hand ȝowdin furth my spreit? 15.. Christ's Kirk 151 in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Cl.) 287 For hir saik he wes nocht yoldin. 1553 Brende Q. Curtius iii. 25 b, All the Cities..that had bene youlden vnto hym. 1836 youden [see yolden 2]. |
(β) 3–5 iȝolde, yȝolde, yolde, 4 iȝoulde, hyȝolde, iȝulde, yȝulde, 4–5 y-yolde, ȝulde, 4–6 ȝolde, 5 i-yolde; 5 ȝold, 5–6 yold.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9223 Ar þe castel him were iȝolde. a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 809 To hire he haþ iȝolde Twenti pond of ride golde. 13.. Bonaventura's Medit. 346 Wheþer nat euyl be ȝulde for gode. 1340 Ayenb. 73 Hou uirtues and guode dedes byeþ heȝliche yolde. Ibid. 163 Þ is dette ne may by uolliche y-yolde. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 2220 With-out assaut þe castel were y-ȝolde. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour lxxxviii, Whanne they shalle be yolde ayenne an hundred folde more. c 1500 Lancelot 380 She aȝeine to hyme haith ansuer ȝolde. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vii. vii. 30 To reape the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold. |
(γ) 5 ȝ(h)eldyn, 5–6 yelden(e, 6 -yn, yeelden.
| c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. iii. ii. 276 Þat he Sulde bundyn and syne ȝeldyn [v.r. ȝoldin] be. 1471 yelden [see B. 8]. 1556 Chron. Grey Friars (Camden) 14 This yere..was the towne of Rome yeldene to the emperor. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 80 Thinke..what thou hast yelden to him againe. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia (1622) 95 Klaius..who lately yeelden was To beare the bonds which time nor wit could breake. |
(δ) 4 iyelt, iȝilde, 5 yȝeld, yelde, 5, 7 yeld, 6 yeeld.
| 13.. Seuyn Sages (W.) 1698 Oure gode dede schal ben iuel i-yelt. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 485 Forto he hadde i-ȝilde hym þe castel of Newerk. 1401 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 14 [He] hadd yȝeld op the Castell of Kermerdyn. c 1440 Generydes 4781 Townys and Castelys are yelde to his hand. 1578 Whetstone Promos & Cass. i. v. iii, Who (wonne by loue) hast yeeld the spoyle of thy virginity. a 1660 Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) II. 24 Mariborough was..treacherously yeld to Castlhauen the 9th of May. |
(ε) 5 iȝelded, ȝeldid, yeldyde, 5–6 yelded, 6–7 yeelded, 7– yielded.
| c 1460 Oseney Reg. 128, j.d. ȝerely to be i-ȝelded to me and to my heyres. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xii. 304, I have yelded you agen that ye lended me right now. 1540 yelded [see B. 9]. 1561 Norton & Sackv. Gorboduc v. ii, Who fearing to be yelded fled before. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iii. xxxvi. 230 Before hee yeeld them obedience; unlesse he have yeelded it them already. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 365, I should never have yielded to injustice from any fear of death. |
(ζ) 5 yolded, -yd.
| 1449 Paston Lett. I. 85 And ther they were yolded all the hundret schyppys to go with me in what port that me lust. a 1466 Gregory Chron. in Hist. Coll. Cit. Lond. (Camden) 115 The towne whythe grete sawte was yoldyd and wonne. |
B. Signification. I. To pay, repay, requite.
† 1. trans. To give in payment, render as due, pay (money, a debt, tribute, tax, etc.). Obs.
| c 893 ælfred Oros. i. x. §1 Þæt him leofre wære wið hiene to feohtanne þonne gafol to ᵹieldanne. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xviii. 30 Donec redderet debitum, wið he ᵹulde þæt scyld. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1014 Se cyning het ᵹyldan þam here þe on Grenewic læᵹ .xxi. þusend punda. c 1205 Lay. 7372 Þu ahtest me to ȝulden [c 1275 ȝelde] ȝauel of þine londe. a 1225 Ancr. R. 404 Iðen euentid, hwon me ȝelt werc-men hore deies hure. a 1300 Cursor M. 1985 And ȝeildes til your creatur Þe tend part o your labour. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 5219 Today ich ȝeld ȝour rentes Wiþ hard woundes & deþ dentes. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxii. 104 Þis citee ȝeldez ȝerely to þe Grete Caan..l. thousand comacyes of florenes of gold. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 318 Symon Holle held j. Cotage, vj. acris of bond-lond, and shold yelde by the yere iij. shillings at two termes of the yere in even porcions. 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII. c. 19 §1 By the service of a redde rose..to the same late Kyng and his heires for all maner services to be yolden. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 15 To performe their bargaines, to stand to their promises, & yelde their debtes. 1598 J. Manwood Lawes Forest iv. §1. 21 b, The killing of them [sc. foxes] is a breach of the kings Royal free Chase, and for that the offender shall yeelde a recompence. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. ii. xi. 272 Glocester yielded [orig. reddebat] xxxvi Dicres of Iron and c. iron rods fitted to make nails for the Kings ships. |
2. a. To give as due or of right, or as demanded or required; to render (service, obedience, account, reward, thanks, etc.). Now somewhat arch.
| c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) cxviii[i]. 17 Ᵹild þinum esne gode dæde. c 1200 Ormin 5214 Lef faderr, ȝeld me nu Forr all min swinnc rihht mede. a 1225 Ancr. R. 186 Þencheð anon þet he is ower uederes ȝerde, & þet he wule ȝelden him ȝerde seruise. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 2248 Ich am her,..mid alle mine hirdmen, to ȝelden reisun for ham. 13.. K. Alis. 7420 (Laud MS.), Ȝeldeþ me homage alle. 13.. Cursor M. 461 (Gött.) Qui suld i him seruise ȝeilde? All sal be at mine aun weilde. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. viii. 175 Þer dede schullen a-rysen,..and a-Countes ȝelden How þou laddest þi lyf. 1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 3 Which wardeins schul gadere þe qwarterage..and trewelich ȝyld here acompt þerof. c 1400 tr. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh. 49 With ioye y wente hoome ȝeldand to oure creatour gret þankynges. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xvii. xix. 717 They yelded hym honour and good aduenture. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 49 They shal yeld an accompt for it one day. 1588 J. Udall Diotrephes (Arb.) 33 And so we her subiects should yeeld continual thanks vnto her highnesse. c 1610 Women Saints (1886) 170 Seeing we haue beene reserued to yield these funerall speeches to our brother and sister. 1663 Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxxviii, That he might be moved to let go his right to punish us, and we not moved to be careless in yielding him the rest of his right which he hath to our..obedience. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xv, What token canst thou give me, that we should yield credence to thee? 1831 James Phil. Augustus II. ii, Yield him obedience in lawful things. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. xxxvi, We yield all blessing to the name Of Him that made them current coin. |
† b. To perform (a promise), pay (a vow). Obs.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter xlix. [l.] 14 Ᵹeld ðæm hestan ᵹehat ð in. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 665, I schal..ȝelde þat I hyȝt. 1382 Wyclif Isa. xix. 21 Thei shul vouwe vouwes to the Lord, and ȝeelde. c 1400 Mandeville ix. [xiii.], Þei ȝolden vp here avowes. c 1400 tr. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh. 110 Ȝelde þy hetynges. |
† c. To give thanks to. Obs. rare.
| c 1440 York Myst. x. 53 Nowe awe I gretely god to yeelde, That so walde telle me his entente. |
† 3. To pay for loss of or injury to (something); to make compensation for (loss or injury); to make up for, make good. (Also absol.) Obs.
| a 900 Laws of ælfred Introd. xxii, Ᵹif hwa adelfe wæterpyt..& hine eft ne betyne, ᵹelde swelc neat swelc ðær on befealle. c 1000 ælfric Exod. xxii. 6 Ᵹif fyr bærne muᵹan oððe standende æceras, ᵹylde þone byrst þe þæt fyr ontende. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 31 Þah ic hefde al þet ic efre biȝet, ne mahtic ȝelden swa muchel swa ic habbe idon to herme. a 1225 Ancr. R. 58 Heo schulen ȝelden þat best þat is þer inne ivallen. Ibid., Heo is gulti of þe bestes deaðe..& schal..ȝelden þe bestes lure. 1340 Ayenb. 31 Uor hi ne moȝe amendi ne yelde þe harmes þet hi habbeþ ydo, and hit behoueþ yelde oþer hongy. |
† 4. To pay back, repay; to give back, restore. (In later use mostly with again.) Obs.
| c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. liv. 425 Wenstu..hwæðer he hine mid ðy ᵹehealdan mæᵹe ðæt he him nauht mare on ne nime, ne ðæt ne ᵹielde ðæt he ær nam? c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 79 Ȝif þu mare spenest of þine, hwan ic aȝen cherre, al ic þe ȝelde. a 1225 Ancr. R. 302 Schrift ȝelt eft al þet god þet we hefden uorloren. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1708 So ȝeply was ȝarked & ȝolden his state. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 236 And ȝit I-chulle ȝelden aȝeyn ȝif I so muche haue. c 1400 Cursor M. 27867 (Cott. Galba) Till wrang tane thing be ȝolden ogayne. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour lxxx, And whanne it plesed vnto God, he yalde ayen the sight vnto this good man. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye iii. 295 So peace that was loste by Adams synne, he restored & yelded ageyne. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. ii. xxi. 219 He ought to be yolden ageyn to his frendes. 1552 Huloet, Yeld eftesones a thinge receiued, or taken,..money borowed or suche like. |
† 5. a. To give (something) in return for something received; to render, return (a benefit or injury, etc.); const. for. Obs.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 223 Ne he næniᵹne man unrihtlice fordemde, ne næniᵹum yfel wiþ yfele ᵹeald. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 15 Ne scalt þu ȝelden vuel onȝein uuel nuða. a 1225 Ancr. R. 186 Ase þe apostle lereð, ne ȝelde neuer vuel uor god. a 1300 Cursor M. 4424 For þi leute and þi truthhede Ful iuel es yolden þe þi mede! 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. iii. (Skeat) l. 107 Yvels for my goodnesse arn manyfolde to me yolden. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 292 It with kinde nevere stod A man to yelden evil for good. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop i. x, Euyll folk..for the good done to them, they yeld ageyne euyll. a 1586 Sidney Ps. vii. iv, If I wrought not for his freedom's sake, Who causlesse now yeeldes me a hatefull hart: Then let my foe chase me. |
b. To return (an answer, a greeting, or the like). Now only (with admixture of 10 b or 14), to vouchsafe (an assent) to.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 64 He..þe sit & spekeð touward him, & ȝelt him word aȝein word. a 1300 Cursor M. 8166 And þair hailsing þai til him tald, Ful hendeli to þam he yald. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 1987 Brengwain answere ȝolde. c 1350 Will. Palerne 234 In hast þemperour hendely his gretyng him ȝeldes. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 224 And euer to his asking ane answer he ȝ ald. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. ii. xix, Venus again ȝald thame thair salusing. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 142 Than yf we be touched with a sharpe worde, we shal yelde a benigne & gentyll answere. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iv. ii. 6 Leaue me your snatches, and yeeld mee a direct answere. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xvi, As he yielded to this suggestion a ready and rapturous assent, they all rose. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 111 To this Protagoras yields a reluctant assent. |
† 6. To give something in return for, make return for, pay for, repay; to reward, recompense, requite (an action, etc., in good or bad sense; often with dative of person). Often in phr. God yield it you: cf. 7 a. Obs.
| a 1000 Cædmon's Gen. 413 Þonne he me na on leofran tid leanum ne meahte Mine ᵹife ᵹyldan. Ibid. 1102 Min sceal swiðor mid grimme gryre ᵹolden wurðan fyll & feorhcwealm, þonne ic forð scio. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 5 For þanne he wile ðere ȝelden elch man his hwile mid swilch mede swo he ernede here. c 1200 Ormin 6239 Þatt heore daȝȝwhammlike swinnc Beo daȝȝwhammlike hemm ȝoldenn. c 1250 Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 33 Clepe þo werkmen and yeld hem here trauail. a 1300 Cursor M. 4996 ‘Sir’, þai said, ‘godd yeild [v.rr. ȝilde, ȝeild, ȝelde] it yow’. a 1300 Assump. Virg. (Camb. MS.) 249 Thu hast made me ofte glad; Thu has done as my sone bad, My sone shal it yelde to the. 13.. K. Alis. 132 (Laud MS.) He..þinkeþ ȝelde his iniquite. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 9241 He hadde iuel ȝolden þe kisseinge Þat Gvenour him ȝaf at his arminge. c 1350 Will. Palerne 319 Þat god for his grete miȝt al here god hem ȝeld. ? 1370 Robt. Cisyle 128 in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 274 The portar ȝalde hym hys travayle, He smote hym agayne withowten fayle. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7941 The dethe of þat doughty shalbe dere yolden With the blode of þi body. c 1400 Gamelyn 368 If..thou thenke as thou seyst, god yelde it thee. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour lxxxviii, Suche good dedes, it is noble thinge to be do, and to vse, whanne they shall be yolde ayenne an hundred folde more. 1530 Palsgr. 786/1 Where I can nat, God yelde it you. |
| absol. 1382 Wyclif Ps. cxxxvii[i]. 8 The Lord shal ȝelde for me. |
7. With personal object (orig. dative; sometimes with to). To reward, remunerate, recompense, repay. a. in good or neutral sense: esp. (in later use only) in phr. God yield (you etc.), also corruptly God eyld.., God dild.., etc. (see god 8), from c 1400 to c 1600 a common expression of gratitude or goodwill. Obs. or rare arch.
| Beowulf 1184 Wene ic þæt he mid gode ᵹyldan wille uncran eaferan. 971 Blickl. Hom. 123 Se ilca Drihten..us þonne wile..æᵹhwylcum anum men ᵹyldan & leaniᵹean æfter his sylfes weorcum. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 231 He..elc ȝeelt efter his ȝearnunge. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2581 God it ȝeald ðese wifes wel, On hom, on haȝte, eddi sel! c 1300 Havelok 803 God yelde him þer i ne may, Þat haueth me fed to þis day! c 1350 Will. Palerne 1547 But loueliche lemman oure lord mot þe ȝeld Þat þi worþi wille was to come to me nouþe. c 1400 Beryn 1680 A Ml in this town Wold do hym worshipp..God hem ȝeld! so have þey offt or nowe. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. cxlvii. (1869) 75 Whan þei weren trussed, grace dieu, god yilde hire wel, goodliche spak to me. 1454 Paston Lett. (1904) II. 331 Suster, God ȝelde ȝow for ȝowre labore fore me, for gaderyng of my mony. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxiii. 495 ‘Gramercy, sir’, sayd the duke rycharde, ‘and god yelde you!’ 1575 Gammer Gurton v. ii, Baily. God blesse you gammer Gurton. Gamer. God dylde you master mine. 1602 Shakes. Ham. iv. v. 41 How do ye, pretty Lady? Ophelia. Well, God dil'd you. 1606 ― Ant. & Cl. iv. ii. 33 Tend me to night two houres, I aske no more, And the Gods yeeld you for't. 1608 Chapman Byron's Conspir. v. ad fin., Marry God dild him. 1872 Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 18 Heaven yield her for it. |
† b. in bad sense: To take vengeance on, ‘pay out’. Obs.
| 13.. Sir Beues (A.) 318 Al þat haþ me fader islawe,..Ich schel hem ȝilden [14.. MS. M. I shall be vengid]. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 43 Myn is þe veniaunce, and I schal ȝelde hem in tyme. 1382 ― Ps. xl. 11 [xli. 10] Thou.. Lord..aȝeen rere me, and I shal ȝelde to them. |
II. To give or put forth, produce, furnish, exhibit.
8. a. To give forth from its own substance by a natural process, or in return for cultivation or labour; to produce, bear, generate (fruit, seed, vegetation, minerals, etc.); to put forth (a bud, shoot, etc.); † to bring forth, give birth to, bear (offspring). Now chiefly arch. or poet.
In first quot. with partitive object.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4720 Þof men ouer all has saun feilds, O corn es þar noght as þat yeilds. 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 31 She this day hath rendred & yelden þe fruyt of her wombe a sone and a doughter. 1573–80 Tusser Husb. (1878) 31 For want of seede, land yeeldeth weede. 1577 Googe tr. Heresbach's Husb. 39 b, The Female [hemp]..dooth yeelde a white flowre. 1577 Harrison England ii. xv. 90 b/2 in Holinshed, Till they..spread or yeld their rootes down right into the soyle about them. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. ii. 107 Iniurious Waspes, to feede on such sweet hony, And kill the Bees that yeelde it, with your stings. 1608 ― Per. v. iii. 48 Thy burden at the Sea, and call'd Marina, for she was yeelded there. 1611 Bible Gen. i. 29 Euery tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yeelding seed. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage vii. xi. 595 The soile yeeldeth Cloues, Ginger, and Siluer. 1651 Bp. Hall Soliloquies xvi, If I look into my orchard I see the well grafted scions yield, first a tender bud. 1672 Grew Idea Philos. Hist. Pl. §43 Turpentine, which, in Distillation, yieldeth Oyl and Water, both limpid. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 482 The salacious Goat encreases more; And twice as largely yields her milky Store. 1744 Berkeley Siris §25 Trees growing in low and shady places do not yield so good tar. 1857 Miller Elem. Chem., Org. (1862) iii. §3. 194 They all combine with the elements of water and yield one of the acids homologous with formic acid. 1859 E. FitzGerald Omar v, But still the Vine her ancient Ruby yields. |
| fig. 1587 Golding De Mornay xvi. (1592) 262 This minde of ours doth also yeeldfoorth words. Ibid. 267 When did euer purenesse yeeldfoorth corruption? |
b. To furnish (a produce of so much). Also with up.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 12329 Þan quen it [sc. wheat] scorn was, weil it yalld A hundret o þair mettes tald. 1577 Harrison England i. xiii. 38/1 in Holinshed, Eche acre of Whete..will yeeld commonly twentie bushelles. 1577 Googe tr. Heresbach's Husb. 30 b, The other kinde [of oats] is lyghter..and yeeldeth but little flowre. 1667 Primatt City & C. Builder 4 Inclosed Lands in many places doth yeild half as much, or as much more, as Lands in common fields. 1833 H. Martineau Briery Creek iii. 63 The farmer makes his land yield double by good tillage. 1888 P. Strutt in Homilist Sept. 391, I have seen a barrowful of crushed quartz-rock yield up at last..a little spoonful of gold. |
c. To produce as a result; to give as a mathematical product. Now rare or Obs.
| 1542 Recorde Gr. Arts L vij, I multiply the first numbre 3 into y⊇ second 40000, and it yeldeth 120000. 1593 T. Fale Horologiogr. 31 The quotient Sine shall yeeld an arke, whose Complement shall be named the Complement repeated. 1876 R. H. Hutton Ess. (ed. 2) I. Pref. 26 Wherever two or more independent and equally worthy sources of information appear to yield up inconsistent results. |
d. absol. To bear produce; to be productive or fertile. † Hence, to turn out (in a certain way).
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5696 Þe erþe ȝeld betere & þet weder was murgore bi is daye..þan me er ysaye. c 1300 Prov. Hendyng in Sal. & Sat. (1848) 277 Lyþt chep luþere ȝeldes, quoþ Hendyng. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 498 A ȝere ȝernes ful ȝerne, & ȝeldez neuer lyke. c 1386 [see yielding vbl. n. 4]. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ii. v. 316 He couythe weil bathe ken and se Qwhat lande sulde ȝhelde or fertile be. c 1440 York Myst. x. 30 Sara was vncertan thanne That euere oure seede shulde sagates ȝelde. 1523–34 Fitzherb. Husb. §10 If the grounde be good, putte the more beanes to the pease, and the better shall they yelde. 1639 J. Taylor (Water P.) Part Summers Trav. 14 A good Myne that doth hold out, and yield plentifully. 1760 R. Brown Compl. Farmer ii. 38 It makes corn to yield well. 1856 Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 1132/1 Spalding's Prolific Red Wheat..yields remarkably well, and weighs well in the bushel. |
† 9. (with compl.) To render, make, cause to be; also occas. to make, cause (to do something).
| c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. cli. (1869) 76, I haue a stoon þat to þe folk, whan j wole, yelt inuisible. c 1450 Mankind 733 in Macro Plays 27 My inwarde afflixcyon ȝeldyth me tedyouse wn-to yowur presens. 1540 Palsgr. Acolastus i. i. D iv, What? is not he yelded quiete (with these wordes)? 1581 A. Hall Iliad v. 83 For doubt that this our forwardnesse may yeelde vs both to die. Ibid. viii. 135 This threat and surly speech doth yeelde the Gods amazde and dum. 1609 J. Rainolds's Def. Judgm. Pref. A ij b, That..holy man, whose learning..and pietie..may perhaps yeeld him more admirable to posteretie. 1674 T. Campion's Art Descant ii. 35 Example will yield it more plain. |
10. To give, in various senses. † a. To deliver, hand over, present, offer. Also with up. Obs. or merged in other senses.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 8743 (Cott.) Me think..Þe child be nawight don to ded, Bot he be yoldon to yond wijf. 13.. Ibid. 10220 (Gött.) Ilkan to þe temple broght Sere giftes..All þair giftes þai ȝeld vp þar. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 67 Syþen riche forth runnen to reche honde-selle, Ȝeȝed ȝeres ȝiftes on hiȝ, ȝelde hem bi hond. 1382 Wyclif Prov. xxvii. 24 A croune shal be ȝolde [late vers. ȝouun] to thee. a 1483 in Engl. Gilds (1870) 316 Þ{supt} euery prentes..shall elde a brekefast to the forsayde M. and Wardons. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 7 Our soule Cannot but yeeld you forth to publique thankes. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage ii. i. 90 Where the holy Trinitie did first yeeld it selfe in sensible apparition to the world. 1807 J. Barlow Columb. iii. 212 No furious God bestorms our soil and skies, Nor yield our hands the bloody sacrifice. |
b. To give as a favour, or as an act of grace; to grant, accord, allow, let (one) have, bestow.
| a 1225 Juliana 72 Schendeð hire nuðen ant ȝeldeð hire ȝarew borh. a 1300 K. Horn 1066 (Cambr. MS.) King þe wise, Ȝeld me mi seruise. Rymenhild help me winne. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour lxx, Afterwarde God yelde her that she had deseruid. 1575 Gascoigne Glasse Govt. Wks. 1910 II. 48 God is..bountifull, yelding unto every man that is industrious the open way to knowledge. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 35 Yeeld pytye, graunt mercy. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cxl. iv, Yeeld, O Lord, that ev'n the head of those That me enclose, Of this their hott pursute May tast the frute. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. xi. 17 To yield him loue she doth deny. 1624 Sir J. Davies Ps. iii. 4 Wks. (Grosart) I. 365 His God to him not safety yeilds nor aid. 1825 Scott Betrothed xxxi, ‘I know but one [jugglers' feat]’, said Vidal, ‘and I will shew it, if you will yield me some room.’ 1833 Tennyson Miller's Dau. xviii, And slowly was my mother brought To yield consent to my desire. 1874 Green Short Hist. ii. §6. 89 The King yielded the citizens the right of justice. 1885–94 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche May xxiv, His name she never learn'd, Nor was his image yielded to her sight. |
† c. To exercise, exert (a function, force, etc.); to deliver, deal (blows), to give (battle); to execute, inflict (a sentence, vengeance). Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 5872 And taron sett he men at ask Of ilk dai to yeild þair task. c 1315 Shoreham vii. 893 God þe fader hys leue sone Engendrede out of alle wone,..Ac man haþ certayn tyme of elde Wanne he may engendrure ȝelde. 13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 1932 Thries misdede this womman bald, And thre vengaunces he hire yald. c 1350 Will. Palerne 2708 Þe selcouþ a-sautes þat þei samen ȝolde. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 3126 He..Bid buske him eft to þe bent vs bataill to ȝeld. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1177 Iche buerne on his best wise batell to yelde. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 2572 Smert boffettes there they yeld. 1561 Googe tr. Palingenius' Zodiac v. O v, Of custome long is nature bred and yeldes her force alway To vse that long time hath bene kept. 1581 A. Hall Iliad i. 3 The rancor ceaseth not, til they do yeeld their vengeance due. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 118 b, Christ..doth encourage them..which do yeld their endeuour..to performe y⊇ rule of the Gospell. |
11. To give forth, emit, discharge; to utter. Also absol. Obs. exc. as represented by weakened uses of other senses, as 8, 14.
| c 1450 Lovelich Grail lvi. 481 And the tombe owt blood gan ȝelde. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 4354 Scho riftit, routit, and maid sic stends, Scho ȝeild, and gaid at baith the ends. 1548–77 Vicary Anat. v. (1888) 44 It causeth the stomacke to yeld from him that is within him. 1552 Huloet, Yeld forth licoure, or moystnes, exsudo. 1581 A. Hall Iliad iv. 72 They cries and clamors yeeld. 1591–5 Spenser Colin Clout 822 Ne is there shepheard..That dare..Blaspheme his powre, or termes vnworthie yield. 1626 Bacon Sylva §22 So we finde that Violets..yeeld a pleasing Sent. 1853 M. Arnold Scholar Gipsy iii, Air-swept lindens yield Their scent. 1872 Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 1344 The huge pavilion slowly yielded up..that which housed therein. |
† 12. a. To give, render, state, declare, deliver, communicate (speech, or something expressible in speech, as a reason, etc.). Obs.
| a 1350 St. Sextus 109 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 107 Decius Cesar..Demed þam al thre to ded. And when þe dome was ȝolden swa, Þan answerd þe dekins twa [etc.]. 1382 Wyclif 1 Tim. vi. 13 Crist Jhesu, that ȝelde a witnessing vndir Pilat of Pounce. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 5192 Lat þi semblance be sadd quen þou þi saȝe ȝildis. 1575–85 Sandys Serm. i. §24 We haue no other reason to yeeld of our dooing, but onely this. a 1577 Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. (1633) 230 The order of proceeding to judgment is by assent of voyces and open yeelding their mind in court. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 104 b, Yeldyng the same in the Latine toung almost, which Basile before him dyd expresse most manifestly in the Greeke toung. 1601 Shakes. All's Well iii. i. 10 The reasons of our state I cannot yeelde. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. i. i. B 3, Hast thou yeelded vp our fixt decree Vnto the Genoan Embassadour? Ibid. iv. G 4, She were no woman, if shee could not yeelde strange language. 1607 Rowlands Diogines Lanthorne E 3 b, Morrow (quoth he) Philosopher, I yeild thee time of day. 1645 Ussher Body Div. 43 What reason can you yeeld for this? |
† b. To report as being so-and-so: = deliver v.1 11 c. Obs. rare—1.
| 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. v. 28 Anthony's dead. If thou say so Villaine, thou kil'st thy Mistris. But well and free, if thou so yeild him, there is Gold. |
13. a. To give so as to supply a need or serve a purpose; to give or provide for use, furnish, afford.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 226 b, They could none otherwise do, but..yelde & geue hym a reasonable reward. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 282 b, He made a goodly librarie, whiche yelded certen notable bookes afterwardes. 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 392/2 Castellum,..a conduit built with cocks and spowts to yeeld water. a 1586 Sidney Ps. xviii. iv, The cherubins their backs, the winds did yeild their wings To beare his sacred flight. 1605 Camden Rem. 1 Navigable rivers, which yeelde safe havens and roads. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 594 That there is such a beast in the world, both Pliny..and others, doe yeald erefrigable testimony. 1661 J. Childrey Brit. Baconica 103 This County also yeilds good store of Honey. 1674 Playford Skill Mus. (ed. 7) ii. 102 Making each several string yield a clear sound. 1781 Cowper Retirem. 326 Man is an harp whose chords elude the sight, Each yielding harmony, dispos'd aright. 1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 128 The narrow valley..being watered by a running stream, yielded fresh pasturage. 1862 Spencer First Princ. ii. v. §57 (1875) 185 A ball fastened to the end of an india-rubber string yields a clear idea of the correlation between perceptible activity and latent activity. 1894 H. Drummond Ascent of Man 251 Two flints struck together yielded fire. |
b. To give rise to, cause, occasion (a state or feeling). Now rare.
| 1576 Gascoigne Steele Glas 709 But if it..might empaire, offende, or yeld anoy Unto the state. 1581 A. Hall Iliad i. 15 Yeelding the Greekes a thorough feare, the Troyans courage hie. 1618 J. Taylor (Water P.) Penniless Pilgr. B 3, We made a field-bed in the field, Which sleepe, and rest, and much content did yeeld. 1632 Lithgow Trav. x. 448 The English Fleete..comming, yeelded no small feare to the affrighted Towne. 1746 Francis tr. Hor. Epist. ii. ii. 120 [He] Yields Diversion to the gaping Throng. 1855 Bain Senses & Int. ii. i. §49. 400 Curved forms and winding movements yield of themselves a certain satisfaction through the muscular sensibility of the eye. |
c. To furnish or produce as profit, bring in.
| 1573–80 Tusser Husb. (1878) 74 Good cow & good ground Yeelds yeerely a pound. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. iv, I frotted a jerkin, for a new-reuenu'd gentleman, yeelded me threescore crownes, but this morning. 1603 G. Owen Pembrokeshire (1892) 114 Rockes yeldinge small proffitte. 1700 S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 96, I..please my self with the thoughts of what it would yeild me among the Chineeses, and the English. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xii, I have sold the things. They have not yielded quite as much as they might have done. 1895 Manch. Guardian 14 Oct. 5/5 It has cost altogether Rx. 875,000, and will yield a revenue to the Government of Rx. 50,000. |
† d. To present to view, exhibit. Obs.
| 1622 Peacham Compl. Gentl. xvi. 206 The valley yeelding so goodly a prospect, as I neuer beheld a better. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 20 July 1654, The stables are well order'd and yeild a gracefull front. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World 69 We had a clear view of Staten land, which yields a most uncomfortable landskip. |
III. To surrender, give way, submit.
14. a. To hand over, give up, relinquish possession of, surrender, resign. arch. or poet. (a) in material sense, esp. of surrendering a military position or forces to an enemy.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3366 Þat hii ssolde him þe castel ȝelde ar he wiþ strengþe him nome. a 1300 Cursor M. 7164 Þe Iuus was þan þair vnder-lute, Sampson bunden þai yald for dute. c 1300 Havelok 2717 Do nu wel with-uten fiht, Yeld hire þe lond. c 1386 Chaucer Wife's T. 56 And suretee wol I han er þat thou pace Thy body for to yelden in this place. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 161 Had he not come, the cyte had be ȝoldyn. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 1032 Gif thou luffis thi life,..Yeld me thi bright brand, burnist sa bene. 1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 545 Deulbere, thy spere of were, but feir, thou yelde. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. lxxviii. 158 The shippe beeing yeelded, our men did enter the same. 1617 Moryson Itin. ii. 233 The besieged did yeeld the place to the Queene. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 151 We soon made him yield his Prize to engage with us. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. xc, The hard heir strides about their lands, And will not yield them for a day. |
(b) in immaterial sense.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 10602 Þai yald hir [sc. the child Mary] to þe temple þan. 1486 in Surtees Misc. (1890) 54 Yelding his title and his crowne unto the king. 1570 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 2) 2296/2 [Queen Mary] who beyng long sicke before, vpon the sayd xvii. day of Nouember,..yelded her life to nature. 1586 A. Day Engl. Secretorie ii. (1595) 28, I was content to yeeld my interest for eleuen hundred and three score poundes. 1611 Bible Rom. vi. 13 Neither yeeld yee your members as instruments of vnrighteousnes vnto sinne. 1623 J. Taylor (water P.) New Discov. B j, We..Were glad to yeeld the honour of the day Vnto our foes. 1656 Bramhall Replic. App. 34 He is well contented to pass by them all in silence, which is as much as yeeld the Cause. 1748 Gray Alliance 53 The prostrate South to the Destroyer yields Her boasted Titles. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T., Forester xvii, It will be imagined that I yield my opinions from meanness of spirit. 1833 Newman Arians iv. i. 312 The timid Constantius, yielding to fear what he denied to justice. 1838 James Robber vii, You have yielded your heart and your happiness to one of whose..family you know nothing. |
† (c) To give up, resign (mentally). Obs. rare.
| 1697 W. Dampier Voy. (1699) 17 Those two men that we left the day before did not come to us till we were in the North Seas, so we yielded them also for lost. |
(d) To relinquish, surrender (a position of advantage or point of superiority).
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 15 Each to other yeeldeth land. 1647 Cowley Mistr., Bathing in River iii, And still old Lovers yield the place to new. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 3 June 1666, [This] put new courage into our Fleete, now in a manner yielding ground. 1797 Godwin Enquirer i. viii. 69 Grief does not easily yield its place to joy. 1851 Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi Wind. i. 1074 Living heroes who will scorn to yield A hair's-breadth even. 1864 Congressional Globe 5 Mar. 934/2 Mr. Schenck. I ask the gentleman from Vermont to yield to me for about five minutes. Mr. Morrill. I will yield the gentleman ten minutes of my time. 1869 Swinburne Ess. & Stud. (1875) 268 The finest of Coleridge's Odes is beyond all doubt the ‘Ode to France’... It were profitless now to discuss whether it should take or yield precedence when weighed with the ‘Ode to Liberty’. |
b. with up; rarely with over.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 266 Þreateð þet ȝe wulleð ȝelden up þene castel bute ȝif he sende ou þe sonre help. c 1290 St. Lucy 83 in S. Eng. Leg. 103 Ich ȝelde him op al mi bodi. c 1350 Will. Palerne 1256 He ȝald vp his swerd to saue þanne his liue. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 1140 Or he ȝode þai ȝolde hym vp þe realm. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 258 He tolde them..that onlesse thei woulde yelde vp the toune..he would put them to the sword. 1600 Old Cheque-Bk. Chapel Royal (Camden) 5 Edward Pearce yealded up his place for the Mastership of the children of Poules. 1611 Bible 1 Macc. x. 32, I yeeld vp my authoritie ouer it. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iv. xxix, The ring which bound the faith he swore, By Edith freely yielded o'er. 1842 Dickens Amer. Notes ix, He had kindly yielded up to us his wife's own little parlour. 1852 ― Bleak Ho. xvi, Sir Leicester yields up his family legs to the family disorder [sc. gout]. |
c. to yield (up) the ghost: (soul, breath, life, spirit) to ‘give up the ghost’, die, expire. arch.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. 211 He was neiȝ ope þe pointe þene gost op to ȝelde. a 1300 Cursor M. 209 How our leuedi endid and yald Hir sely saul. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13262 Þey fond hym sone, ȝeldyng þe gast. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 2194 Whan with honour vp yolden is his breeth. c 1430 Chev. Assigne 335 He bowethe hym down & ȝeldethe vp þe lyfe. c 1500 Lancelot 1088 The batell was richt crewell to behold, Of knychtis wich that haith there lyvis ȝolde. 1552 Lyndesay Monarche 4000 Thay,..For extreme hunger, ȝald the spreit. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 303 Canutus the Hardie..who there amid his cups yeelded up his vitall breath. 1611 Bible Gen. xlix. 33 He..yeelded vp the ghost, and was gathered vnto his people. 1627 J. Taylor (Water P.) Armado C 4, The Horse proued himselfe a mortall beast, yeelding his breath into the ayre. 1844 Mrs. Browning Rom. Page xviii, Out upon the traitor's corse Was yielded the true spirit. a 1845 Hood Fall of Deer 35 Nor like a Craven yeeld his Breath. |
d. refl. and † pass. To be dedicated or devoted to; to give oneself up or be addicted to.
| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 429 As she were, for the love of God, Yolden to religioun. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 317 In blake clothes thei hem clothe,..And yolde hem to religion. c 1500 Lancelot 951 Y ware ȝolde euermore to be your knyght. 1621 T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard 124 Eleazar..was gone and yeelded to prophane ceremonies. 1825 Scott Talism. iv, All the extravagances which strong affection suggests and vindicates to those who yield themselves up to it. 1852 Dickens Bleak Ho. xiii, I..yielded myself for a little while to the interest of the scene. |
15. refl. To give oneself up, surrender, submit, as to a conqueror (now rare; superseded by 16). Also with up.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5447 Þe maystres of þe lond ȝolde hom to hom echon [v.rr. ȝulde, ȝoulde, ȝeldede, ȝelden]. a 1300 Cursor M. 23769 Hardili es he cuward,..Þat yeildes him ar he be soght. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1215, I ȝelde me ȝederly, & ȝeȝe after grace. c 1400 Brut cxcvii. 219 Anone he & his company comen to the Gentil Knyght..& saiden ‘ȝelde þe, traitour! ȝelde þe!’ 1470–85 Malory Arthur viii. xxii. 306 Rather shalle he slee me than I shal yelde me as recreaunt. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 237 Quhen deith cummis thair is na vther grace, Bot ȝeild the than, for doutles thow mon die. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, v. iii. 10 Vnlesse thou yeeld thee as a Prisoner. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xix. 724/1 The sight of vs their annointed Soueraign shall..cause them..submissiuely to yeeld themselues to our mercy. 1642 J. Taylor (Water P.) Life Henry Walker A 3 b, Others would have him come on Land and yeeld himselfe. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 243 Genoua also was constrained to yield it self, and shake off the French yoke. 1847 Tennyson Princess vii. 343 Indeed I love thee: come, Yield thyself up. |
| with compl. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 193 He ȝelte [v.rr. yald, ȝelde, yelde, ȝalte, ȝald] hym creaunt to cryst on þe crosse & knewleched hym gulty. c 1500 Melusine 335 My intencion is thither to goo and to yeld my self there hermyte. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 284 b, I yelde my self prisoner to you saith he. c 1645 Howell Lett. I. iii. xxxi. (1655) 157 My Don will..yeeld himself his prisoner. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. xii. 54 To those that have yeelded themselves subjects. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T., Prussian Vase, He..yielded himself up a prisoner. 1813 Scott Rokeby iv. xvi, He..yielded him an easy prey To those who led the Knight away. |
| const. inf. 1590 Sir J. Smythe Disc. Weapons Ded. 1 b, [They] will (with humility) yeeld themselues to heare and learne by their experiences. |
16. a. intr. To give oneself up, surrender, submit (as overcome in fight). Also with up (obs. rare).
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 3451 Seuen kniȝtes..to hem ward gun priken..& bad hem ȝeld. c 1450 Merlin 461 Sir knyght, thow art take: yelde thow to me. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xvi. lxx, It [sc. a castle] must yelde vp, or els be wonne at length. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. ii. 37 England shall couch downe in feare, and yeeld. 1605 Camden Rem. 28 The rebells therewith weere so terrified, that they forthwith yeelded. 1672 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 400 The whole Province of Utrecht is yielding up. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 270 There needed very few Arguments to perswade a single Man to yield, when he saw five Men upon him, and his Comrade knock'd down. 1791 Cowper Iliad xvii. 16 Yield. Leave the body and these gory spoils. |
| † with compl. a 1547 Surrey æneis ii. 77 [They] brought..A yongman, bound his handes behinde his back Whoe willingly had yelden prisoner. |
b. In wider sense: To give way, be subjected, submit (cf. 17); occas. to break down, succumb.
| 1576 Gascoigne Steele Glas Ep. Ded., Shall I yelde to mysery as a just plague apointed for my portion? 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades iv. ii. 566 The worldly griefe is the sorrowe of such men..as yeeld vnder the burthen of sorrowe. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, v. ii. 11 Thus yeelds the Cedar to the Axes edge. 1640 G. Sandys Christ's Passion i. 184 Not yeelding to the charmes of Sleep. a 1721 Prior Turtle & Sparrow 86 Sorrow shou'd to Prudence yield. 1750 Gray Elegy 25 Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield. 1813 Scott Rokeby vi. xxiii, The night has yielded to the morn. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xliv, The child..soon yielded to the drowsiness that came upon her. a 1862 Buckle Civiliz. (1873) III. v. 355 Theory should yield to fact, and not fact to theory. 1896 Pall Mall Mag. May 17 The night was yielding, and the dawn came up in a thin white mist. |
† c. pa. pple. in refl. or intr. sense = that has surrendered. Hence in pass. sense = forced to surrender, subdued. Obs. Cf. yielded, -en, yolden.
In first quot. with mixed constr.
| a 1330 Otuel 862 Hit where sschame..To sslen a man þat ȝolden him is. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 1211 Now yeldeth yow, for oþer bote is noon. To þat Criseyde answered þus a-noon, Ne hadde I er now, my swete herte dere, Ben yolden, y-wys I were now not here. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. vii. (Skeat) l. 30 Although the party be yolden, he may with wordes saye his quarel is trewe. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 1899 Þe erthe at to myne enpire enterely bees ȝolden. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. xi. 228 Whan ye see me beten or yolden as recreaunt. 1533 Bellenden Livy iv. xii. (S.T.S.) II. 91 Þe Inemyis kest away þare wappynnys and war ȝoldin presoneris. a 1547 Surrey æneis ii. 827 Like as the elm..doth bend his top, Till yold with strokes..with ruin it doth fall. a 1600 Montgomerie Sonn. xxxvi. 7, I ȝoldin am, and ȝit am stryving still. a 1600 ― Misc. Poems xxi. 11 To prove on me thy pith,..That ȝoldin am in will. |
† d. To give place, give way to. Obs.
| 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. xxvii. 201 In some partes one element ends and another beginnes, yeelding by degrees one vnto another. 1611 Mure Misc. Poems ii. 42, I yeild to the, more worthie thame nor I. |
e. To be inferior to. Now rare.
| [1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. xxvi. 281 But as touching almonds and other fruites, all trees must yeelde to the almonds of Chachapoyas.] 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 18 The City [of Nuremberg]..may perhaps yield to Augsburg in treasure and riches. 1726 Swift Gulliver i. vi, Their mutton yields to ours, but their beef is excellent. 1826 Syd. Smith Wks. (1859) II. 74 Demerara yields to no country in the world in her birds. 1832 R. & J. Lander Exped. Niger I. iv. 187 The vast plain on which it stands, although exceedingly fine, yields in..fertility and..beauty..to the delightful country surrounding the..city of Bohoo. |
17. a. To give way to persuasion, entreaty, or the like; to cease to oppose or object; to submit, comply, consent. Also with up (obs. rare).
| ? a 1500 Chester Pl. (E.E.T.S.) vii. 647 Turne to thie fellowes and kis! I yeald, for in my youth we haue bene fellowes, I wis. 1531 Elyot Gov. iii. xviii. (1883) II. 315 Ther lacked litle that the yonge man was nat vainquisshed; and that the flesshe yelded nat to the seruice of Venus. 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer ii. Q iv b, He woulde neuer yelde at the perswasion of many Scholars. 1583 in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. V. 43 Yealdinge to the froward importunities of the Donatists. 1589 Hakluyt Voy. To Rdr. ¶8, I haue yeelded vnto those my freindes which pressed me in the matter. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 425 You presse mee farre, and therefore I will yeeld. 1630 Prynne Anti-Armin. 2 We will forthwith yeeld up to them without any more dispute. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 409 Thy temperance..For no allurement yields to appetite. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones x. iii, He..yielded to the dissuasions of his friend from searching any farther after her that night. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xxvi, As soon as they had yielded to my arguments. 1874 Green Short Hist. viii. §5. 516 The danger at last forced the King to yield to the Scotch demands. |
† b. with inf. or clause, or with to and n.: To submit, consent, agree (to do something, that something should be done, or to something proposed).
| 1572 in 13th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. iv. 13 If such reasons shall not move him for to yeald to departe. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxi. §7 To..graunt that what their fancie will not yeelde to like, their iudgement cannot with reason condemne. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. i. xvi. 31 The Reatins..no way yeelding that the mouth of the lake Velinus should be dammed vp. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies vii. xii. 529 As this was preparing, and every one yeelded to this treatie of peace [etc.]. 1626 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 245 Which news so soon as the French heard, their courage came downe, and they yielded to be gone the next tyde. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 248 To short absence I could yeild, For solitude somtimes is best societie. Ibid. 902 How hast thou yeelded to transgress The strict forbiddance? a 1763 Shenstone Elegies vii. 55 Should some patron yield my stores to bless. 1799 Jane West Tale of Times xxxiii, Nor can I yield to sully my integrity by basely framing a forged accusation. 1814 ― Alicia de Lacy IV. 265 He yielded to ask for mercy, but he yielded without hope of success. |
18. trans. † a. With compl. adj. or adj. phr.: To acknowledge or admit that a person or thing is so-and-so. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 28077 Til our lauerd crist and þe, M. gastli fader, yeild i me Plighti for my syn o pride. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 374, I, glotoun,..gylti me ȝelde, Þat I haue trespassed with my tonge. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) x. 120 Ȝeldynge him self gylty, and cryenge him mercy. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye ii. 87 Yeldyng vs gylty not for the thanke of man but Coram domino. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. iv. 42 Till you conclude, that he vpon whose side The fewest Roses are cropt from the Tree, Shall yeeld the other in the right opinion. 1630 W. Freake Doctr. Jesuits 17 Which thing, if I shall yeeld unto you as lawfully done [etc.]. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 526, I yeild it just, said Adam, and submit. 1673 Lady's Call. i. iv. ¶19, I shall be thought to have out-run my subject... Yet I cannot yield it wholly impertinent. 1676 Dryden Aurengz. i. i, He yields his Arms unjust if he withdraws. 1744 E. Haywood Female Spect. viii. (1748) II. 65, I knocked under, in token of yielding myself in the wrong. |
† b. With clause or acc. and inf.: To concede or admit that a thing is so. Obs.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ix. 38 Pensiue I yeeld I am, and sad in mind. 1605 Chapman All Fooles ii. i, I must yeeld,..I did..Make such a frivall promise. 1628 T. Spencer Logick 242 The Apostle Paul 2 Cor. ii. 6 is content to yeeld his accusers, that, he was ‘rude in speech’. 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts 1 Cor. vii. 40, I thinke that I also shall be yeelded to have the Spirit of God. 1692 Locke 3rd Let. Toleration iv. 114, I will yield my self to have mistaken you. a 1697 Aubrey Lives, Suckling (1898) II. 241 Sir John Digby..yielded to be the best swordsman of his time. 1703 Rowe Fair Penit. v. i, 'Tis hard for Souls like mine..to yield they have done amiss. |
c. With simple obj., with or without dative of the person: To grant, allow, concede the fact, validity, or cogency of. Now rare (and associated with 14).
| 1571 Campion Hist. Irel. vii. (1633) 20 The honourable Historian Titus Livius, yeeldeth certaine priviledge to antiquitie. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iv. 421, I yeeld all this. c 1620 A. Hume Brit. Tongue (1865) 22 This idle e;..in wordes ending in c..as peace, face..these I yeld because I ken noe other waye to help this necessitie. 1652 Brome Queenes Exch. i. i, Tis true, the King Osriick..may be thought fit To be endow'd with all you seem to yeild him. 1713 Swift Cadenus & Vanessa 265 And Pallas, if she broke the laws, Must yield her foe the stronger cause. 1713 Steele Englishman No. 55. 354 All which wise Men mean was yielded on both sides by our Lawyers. 1907 Verney Mem. I. 63 The point appears to have been yielded. |
† 19. refl. To betake oneself (cf. F. se rendre); hence yield-you as a nonce-rendering of rendez-vous.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14225 [Guenevere] ȝald hure til þat nonnerye. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4904 He..yalte [him] into somme couente. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xvii. xxiii. 724 Sire Percyual yelded hym to an hermytage oute of the cyte. 1578 H. Wotton Courtlie Controv. 295 He tooke his leaue of hir, and went out..into a narrowe by lane, where from thenceforth euer after the (yeeld you) was giuen him. |
20. a. intr. To give way under some natural or mechanical force, so as to collapse, stretch, bend, crack, etc.; spec. To deform inelastically; to undergo a large increase in strain without a corresponding increase in stress. Const. to (the force, pressure, etc.).
| 1552 Huloet, Yeld againe as dankysh, contabesco. 1577 [see yielding ppl. a. 4]. c 1580 Lodge Reply Gosson's Sch. Abuse (Hunter. Cl.) 26 Looke for wonders where musike worketh,..the bowels of the earth yeld where the instrument soundeth. 1590 Greene Neuer too late (1600) E j, As there is a Topace that will yeeld to euery stamp, so there is an Emerald that will yeeld to no impression. 1603 G. Owen Pembrokeshire (1892) 2 [The sea] doth not..seeme to yeld to the lande in anye parte. c 1610 Women Saints (1886) 64 The same stone moste miraculouslie being pulled, would yield like a bowe. 1735 Johnson Lobo's Abyssinia, Descr. x. 98 After Rains,..the Ground yields and sinks so much, that [etc.]. 1830 R. Knox Béclard's Anat. 196 If they [sc. the arteries] be distended in the longitudinal direction, they yield and elongate. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xiv. 96 The snow yielded, he fell, and slid swiftly downwards. 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal M. s.v., Pillars of coal are said to yield when they commence to give way or crush. 1900 Phil. Mag. L. 77 The assumption..that the material yields when one of the principal stresses reaches a certain amount. 1927 F. V. Warnock Strength of Materials iii. 46 At the point C the material has yielded a large amount, and the corresponding stress is known as the ‘Yield Stress’. 1968 A. H. Cottrell Introd. Metallurgy xxi. 395 Suppose that the central grain..has in fact so yielded (e.g. because of the stress-concentrating effect of a foreign inclusion in it), but its neighbours are still elastic. |
b. To submit to some physical action or agent (e.g. pressure, friction, heat, etc.) so as to be affected by it.
| 1794 Kirwan Elem. Min. (ed. 2) I. 37 He distinguishes those that yield to the file, as the white copper ore, hæmatites, etc. 1827–35 N. P. Willis Idleness 49 When the frost has yielded to the sun. 1838 Dickens O. Twist. xxi, The door yielded to the pressure. 1847 W. C. L. Martin Ox 158/1 Ophthalmia arising..from blows, generally yields to bleeding. 1867 H. Macmillan Bible Teach. Pref. (1870) p. vii, The mountain must yield to the action of cold and heat. 1908 H. Wales Old Alleg. xvii. 292, I was surprised that you didn't yield to brandy. |
† 21. To decline, turn aside, be deflected from a path or course: lit. and fig. Obs.
| 1576 Fleming tr. Caius' Dogs 15 [Setters] attend diligently vpon theyr Master,..inclining to the right hand, or yealding toward the left. 1631 Markham Cheap Husb. (ed. 6) i. ii. 22 Ease your hand, and draw it up againe, letting it come and goe till hee yeeld and goe backeward. 1806 Simple Narrative I. 21 Without yielding, in the smallest degree, from the resolution she had formed. |
IV. 22. Comb.: yield-capacity, capacity of yielding or producing; yield gap, the excess rate of return of long-dated or undated Government stocks over that of ordinary shares; yield-point, (the stress corresponding to) the point on a stress–strain diagram at which the strain begins to increase substantially without a corresponding increase in stress: in some metals differentiated as upper yield point, a point at which the stress ceases to increase as the strain increases, prior to a fall to the lower yield point, from which the strain increases while the stress remains almost constant at the lower value; also, esp. in Geol., the elastic limit or the yield strength; yield sign U.S. = give-way sign; yield strength, in materials that do not exhibit a well-defined yield point, the stress at which (in addition to the elastic deformation) a definite amount of plastic deformation is produced (usu. taken as 0·2 per cent of the unstressed length); yield stress, the value of stress at a yield point or at the yield strength.
| 1889 Nature 12 Dec. 122 To assess the yield-capacity of any locality stocked with Scotch pine. |
| 1959 Economist 25 Apr. 353/1 Investors today keep a careful eye on the ‘yield gap’—the margin between dividend yields on ordinary shares and long term rates of interest set by the yield on irredeemable Consols. 1981 Observer 4 Oct. 19/2 It would also draw attention to the widening yield gap between gilts and shares. |
| [1870 G. Berkeley in Exper. Mech. & Other Properties Steel 4 Within the ‘yielding point’ of Steel the amount of lengthening from tension, or shortening from compression, produced by equal forces per unit of area is nearly the same.] 1886 K. Pearson in I. Todhunter Hist. Theory Elasticity & Strength of Materials I. 887 When a bar is subjected to increasing traction, a certain stretch is reached after which there is a sudden and rapid increase of stretch... The point at which this change takes place is very marked, and various names have been suggested for it, as the limit of fatigue, the limit of stability, and the break-down point. The latter name brings out the character of the phenomenon, but at the same time suggests a point related to absolute strength or cohesion; I have therefore spoken of this point in the present work as the yield-point. 1889 Telegr. Jrnl. & Electr. Rev. 20 Dec. 707/1 The question of discontinuity of the curves about the ‘yield point’ was next discussed. 1919 Fuller & Johnston Appl. Mech. II. x. 378 If the material is very ductile a yield point in torsion will appear at a torque somewhat higher than the elastic limit, similar to the yield point in tension. 1967 J. G. Ramsay Folding & Fracturing of Rocks vi. 258 The specimen has..been permanently strained because the elastic limit has been exceeded. The point where this limit is first exceeded is known as the yield point. 1968 A. H. Cottrell Introd. Metallurgy xxi. 390 In some materials..general yielding can begin in a very striking manner with a yield drop in which the applied stress falls, during yielding, from an upper yield point to a lower yield point. 1971 B. Scharf Engin. & its Lang. iv. 23 Many metals such as aluminium, copper and brass have high ductility but no definite yield point (yield stress). |
| 1981 Pop. Hot Rodding Feb. 66/1 To delve into this whole subject more deeply, we discussed it with SPS engineer Jack Schmidt, who spoke to us of tensile strength, yield points, and clamping loads. |
| 1951 C. E. Riggs in Amer. City June 133/1 On one street of each open intersection the sign reading slow yield right of way is erected... The new ‘yield’ signs are..of distinctive shape. 1977 J. Cheever Falconer 48 Putting up traffic signs, speeding signs, yield signs, stop signs. |
| 1935 Proc. Amer. Soc. Testing Materials XXXVIII. 1315 Yield strength, the stress at which a material exhibits a specified limiting permanent set. 1967 Times Rev. Industry Feb. 45/2 Some British orders went overseas because of the inability..to cope with the more difficult combinations of pipe diameter, wall thickness and yield strength. 1982 Materials Sci. & Engin. LVI. 10/1 The yield strength of tempered lath martensitic 0·4% C steels is generally independent of packet size. |
| 1913 Proc. R. Soc. A. LXXXVIII. 465 The observed stress at yield might..be below the true yield stress. 1954 C. W. MacGregor in W. R. Osgood Residual Stresses in Metals 110 Local yielding occurred with an applied uniform tensile stress considerably less than the yield stress. 1971 [see yield-point above]. 1973 C. R. Barrett et al. Princ. Engin. Materials vi. 208 The applied tensile stress required to induce plastic behavior is known as the elastic limit or yield stress. 1973 J. G. Tweeddale Materials Technol. I. iv. 81 The yield stress is slightly above the elastic limit since it clearly represents the incidence of gross plastic strain. |