Now arch. and dial. Forms: α. 1 ʓeon, 4 ȝion, yoene, ȝhone, yhon(e, 4–5 yone, 4–6 ȝone, (6, 8 Sc.) ȝon, 5 yhonne, 6 yoen, (7–8 yon’), 4– yon. β. 5 ȝene, (6 ien), 6, 9 dial. yen, 9 dial. yin. [OE. ʓeon adj. (rare), corresp., with variation of vowel, to OFris. iêna, gêna (ienn-, inn-), WFris. jinge, OHG. jenêr, MHG., G. jener, also OHG., MHG. enêr, G. dial. ene(r, ON. enn, inn, hinn, def. art. (Sw., Da. hin), Goth. jains that. The Teut. bases underlying these forms, or other variants of them, are represented also in OHG. ennân, MHG. enne(n from there, hither, OHG. en(n)ônt, MHG. en(n)ent yonder, G. dial. jenntak, jennabend yesterday, Goth. jainar there; Du. and LG. show forms with initial guttural, viz. MDu. ghene, gone, göne (Du. gene) that, LG. gunnen that, there, gunsiet yonder. Related forms outside Teut. are recognized in Skr. ēna- 3rd pers. pron., anēna, anayā (instr.), that (one), OSlav. onŭ he, Lith. añs he. See also YOND, YONDER.
In OE. the only members of this family of words for which evidence is forthcoming are ʓeon adj. and ʓeond, ʓeondan YOND prep. (? orig. adv. like Goth. jaind), together with biʓeonan (-ʓinan, -ʓenan) ‘trans,’ beʓeondan (Northumb. biʓeanda, biʓienda) BEYOND adv. and prep. From these the various parallel uses of yon, yond, and yonder have arisen through the extension to other members of applications originally appropriated to one of them.
The 17–18th-cent. spelling of the word with an apostrophe Gon’ indicates that it was regarded as short for yond.]
A. adj.
1. A demonstrative word used in concord with a sb. to indicate a thing or person as (literally, or sometimes mentally) pointed out: cf. THAT dem. adj. 1. Formerly often, as still in some dialects, simply equivalent to that (those); but chiefly, and in later literary use almost always, referring to a visible object at a distance but within view: = ‘that (those) … over there.’
α. c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., lviii. 443. Aris, & gong to ʓeonre byrʓ.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 654. Bot yhon tre cum þou nawight to, Þat standes in midward paradis. Ibid., 3027. Sco sceud abraham, ‘yon bastard Do him a-wai.’
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 149. Patriarkes and prophetes þat in peyne liggen, Leyf hit neuere þat ȝon [v.rr. ȝeon, ȝone, ȝonde, ȝynen, ȝeond] lyght hem a-lofte brynge.
a. 1400. Northern Passion, 9/70. I wyll weynd to ȝhone cyte.
c. 1400. Cursor M., 27684 (Cott. Galba). Ȝone man ledes His life in praiers and almus dedes.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 498. Ȝone selfe dragon forsothe I saȝe with myne eȝen.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 7398. Knawes þou noȝt ȝone ȝonge man?
15[?]. Sonnge Sir Andraye Barton, xxii., in Surtees Misc. (1890), 70. ‘Fetch me yoen English dogs,’ he saide.
1621. G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., VIII. (1626), 168. And to yon’ hill Follow our steps.
c. 1630. Milton, Sonn., i. O Nightingale, that on yon bloomy Spray Warbl’st at eeve.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1850), I. i. 62. When we have gain’d yon Maiden City.
1652. Urquhart, Jewel, 189. Because of his being of this or this, or that, or yon, or of that other Religion.
1712. Pope, Vertumnus, 100. The fair fruit that on yon’ branches glows.
1766. Goldsm., Hermit, i. To where yon taper cheers the vale With hospitable ray.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxx. I mind aye the drink o’ milk ye gae me yon day.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Tale of Tyne, i. 16. I must go somewhere away from yon great town.
1890. W. A. Wallace, Only a Sister? xxix. There’s a man in yon brake listening to what we’re a-saying.
β. c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 1765, in Macro Plays, 129. All ȝene maydnys on ȝone playn.
c. 1550. Cheke, Matt. xxvii. 64. We remember yt ien deceiver said, whil he was iet alijv. J wil rijs again after iij dais.
1583. Melbancke, Philot., Dd iij b. Seest thou not yen milke white pathe that crosse the welkin wendes?
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Yin, adj., yon.
1700. B. N. C. (Oxf.), Munim., 33. 15 (MS.). The yon acre in Bindffield.
1897. Outing (U.S.), XXX. 384/1. We were told that Bill Ryder lived on the yon side of the mountain.
B. pron. (sing. or pl.) The adj. used absol., usually denoting a visible object (or objects) pointed out, at a distance but within view: = ‘that (or those) over there’; but sometimes simply = ‘that’ (or ‘those’): cf. A. 1. Now only Sc. and dial.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3358 (Cott.). Yon es mi lauerd ysaac, Yon es þi keiser sal be þin. Ibid. (13[?]), 15919 (Gött.). ‘Yoene,’ he said, ‘es ane of his þat wid vs es in band.’ Ibid., 19700 (Edinb.). Na es noȝt ȝion He þat we saȝ þis ender dai Gain name of ihesu sua werrai?
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIV. 280. Ȝone ar gadering of the cuntre.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 123. Yhonne is Wallace, that chapit our presoune.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cress., 533. Quhat Lord is ȝone (quod scho)?
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. ix. (S. T. S.), II. 79. Ȝone Is he þat has violate þe law of pepil.
1616. Marlowe’s Faustus, xi. What strange beast is yon, that thrusts his head out at window?
1621. G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., VIII. (1626), 165. What place Is yon,’ and of what name, that stands alone?
a. 1704. T. Brown, Misc., Campaign, iii. Wks. 1711, IV. 143. Now, now we are there; yon’s the General’s Tent.
1822. Scott, Peveril, xl. Was yon the messenger?
1829. Marryat, Frank Mildmay, xix. ‘D—-n the dog that says yon of Jock Thompson,’ replied the Caledonian.
1895. ‘Ian Maclaren,’ Brier Bush, Highl. Mystic, i. 60. Yon were verra suitable words at the second table [i.e., at the Communion].
1896. Kipling, Seven Seas, M’Andrews’ Hymn, 108. Yon’s strain, hard strain, o’ head an’ hand.
