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Middle English

Etymology

From Old English ēaġe.

Pronunciation

Noun

(plural yën)

  1. Alternative form of eie
    • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 9-10:
      [...] And smale fowles maken melodye,
      That slepen al the night with open ,
      [...]
      [...] And small fowls make melody,
      Those that sleep all the night with open eyes, [...]

Usage notes

  • In original manuscripts, this was written ye; the addition of the dieresis is a notation from much more recent editions of Middle English works to distinguish it from the pronoun ye.