Forms: see below. [Com. Teut. str. vb.: OE. (WS.) ʓieldan, (Angl. & Kent.) ʓeldan, pa. t. ʓeald, ʓuldon, pa. pple. ʓolden = 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 ond 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. Infinitive and Present Stem. α. 1 ʓieldan, ʓeldan, 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. Ibid., 19172 (Edinb.). To þe ihesu Ȝield I mi gaste.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 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. Shaks., 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 ʓildan, ʓyldan, 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. Ʒif man cucu finde, þæt he stæl … ʓilde 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. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 55. Cownsaylenge theyme to yolde vp the cite.
c. 1482. J. Kay, trans. 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 ʓieltst, ʓiltst, ʓilst, ʓyltst, 3–4 ȝelst, yelst. 3rd sing. 1 ʓielt, ʓilt, ʓylt, 2 ȝeelt, 3 ȝilt, ȝeldþ, 3–5 ȝelt, 4–5 yelt, 5 yalte.
c. 883. Ælfred, Boeth., xl. § 7. Ælmihtiʓ God … ʓilt ælcum æfter his ʓewyrhtum.
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. Pa. t. α. 1 ʓeald, 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. 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 ʓulde, 3 ȝulde; 3rd sing. 4 ȝuld(e. pl. 1 ȝuldon, -an, 3–4 ȝulde(n, 4 ȝuld.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 2419. Duʓuðum wlance drihtne ʓuldon god mid gnyrne.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Th.), cv. 26 [cvi. 36]. Sceuccgyldum swyþe ʓuldan.
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. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 187. But aftirward alle went bak, and ȝold hem to the Kyng.
c. 1482. J. Kay, trans. 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., 1203 (Cott.). Lelli yald he him his teind. 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. Ibid. (1340), Pr. Consc., 2272. He yhelded þe gast to God and dyghed.
13[?]. Cursor M., 666 (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. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 269. The citesynnes … yoldede the cite.
3. Pa. pple. α. 1 ʓolden, 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 ʓolden.
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. Þis 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 ʓieldanne.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xviii. 30. Donec redderet debitum, wið he ʓulde þæt scyld.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1014. Se cyning het ʓyldan þam here þe on Grenewic læȝ .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. Maundev. (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. 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, trans. 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. 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. Ʒild 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. trans. 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. Daus, trans. 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. G. P. R. 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. Ʒeld ðæm hestan ʓehat ðin.
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. Maundev. ix. [xii.] Þei ȝolden vp here avowes.
c. 1400. trans. 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. Ʒif hwa adelfe wæterpyt … & hine eft ne betyne, ʓelde swelc neat swelc ðær on befealle.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Exod. xxii. 6. Ʒif fyr bærne muʓan oððe standende æceras, ʓylde 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. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., liv. 425. Wenstu … hwæðer he hine mid ðy ʓehealdan mæʓe ðæt he him nauht mare on ne nime, ne ðæt ne ʓielde 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 into 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,… mony borowed or suche like.
† 5. 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 næniʓne man unrihtlice fordemde, ne næniʓum yfel wiþ yfele ʓeald.
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 ȝald.
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. Shaks., 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 ʓife ʓyldan. Ibid., 1102. Min sceal swiðor mid grimme gryre ʓolden 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, Ay 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.
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 ʓyldan wille uncran eaferan.
971. Blickl. Hom., 123. Se ilca Drihten … us þonne wile … æʓhwylcum anum men ʓyldan & leaniʓean 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. Shaks., Ham., IV. v. 41. How do ye, pretty Lady? Ophelia. Well, God dil’d you. Ibid. (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. Ibid. (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. To give forth from its own substance by a natural process, or in return for cultivation or labor; 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 an 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, trans. 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. Shaks., Two Gent., I. ii. 107. Iniurious Waspes, to feede on such sweet hony, And kill the Bees that yeelde it, with your stings. Ibid. (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, trans. 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. Ht. 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 ye second 40000, and it yeldeth 120000.
1593. 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. sb. 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. Ibid. (13[?]), 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. Þt euery prentes … shall elde a brekefast to the forsayde M. and Wardons.
1603. Shaks., 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 favor, 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, or 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, trans. 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 ye 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. 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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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. 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. Daus, trans. 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, trans. 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., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 96. I … pleased 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. 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. 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. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 161. Had he not come, the cyte had be ȝoldyn.
c. 1470. Golagros & 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, trans. 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 ynrighteousnes 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. Maria 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. G. P. R. 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. 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 March, 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. Ibid. (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, Romaunt of 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, trans. 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. Shaks., 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. Daus, trans. 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. Maria 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. 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. Shaks., 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. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, IV. ii. 566. The worldly griefe is the sorrowe of such men … as yeeld vnder the burthen of sorrowe.
1593. Shaks., 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. H. B. Marriott Watson, in Pall Mall Mag., May, 14. The night was yielding, and the dawn came up in a thin white mist, that stretched like a counterpane upon the forest.
† 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. Ibid. (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 thanne 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. 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, trans. 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. Shaks., 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, Tome 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 sb.: 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. 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. Ibid. (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. Maundev. (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. Shaks., 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. Eliza 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 Lett. Toleration, iv. 114. I will yield my self to have mistaken you.
a. 1697. Audrey, 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. Shaks., 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, Cadenas & 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. intr. To give way under some natural or mechanical force, so as to collapse, stretch, bend, crack, etc. 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.
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, trans. 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-point, the ‘point’ or precise amount of tensile force at which a particular body or material begins to yield or give way, i.e., to undergo elongation or deformation.
1889. Nature, 12 Dec., 122. To assess the yield-capacity of any locality stocked with Scotch pine.
1889. Telegr. Jrnl. & Electr. Rev., 20 Dec., 707/1. The question of discontinuity of the curves about the ‘yield point’ was next discussed.
