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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Y \Y\ (w[imac]), n.; pl. {Y's} (w[imac]z) or {Ys}.
Something shaped like the letter Y; a forked piece resembling
in form the letter Y. Specifically:
(a) One of the forked holders for supporting the telescope of
a leveling instrument, or the axis of a theodolite; a
wye.
(b) A forked or bifurcated pipe fitting.
(c) (Railroads) A portion of track consisting of two
diverging tracks connected by a cross track.
[1913 Webster]

{Y level} (Surv.), an instrument for measuring differences of
level by means of a telescope resting in Y's.

{Y moth} (Zool.), a handsome European noctuid moth {Plusia
gamma}) which has a bright, silvery mark, shaped like the
letter Y, on each of the fore wings. Its larva, which is
green with five dorsal white species, feeds on the
cabbage, turnip, bean, etc. Called also {gamma moth}, and
{silver Y}.
[1913 Webster]


Y \Y\ (w[imac]).
Y, the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet, at the
beginning of a word or syllable, except when a prefix (see
Y-), is usually a fricative vocal consonant; as a prefix, and
usually in the middle or at the end of a syllable, it is a
vowel. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 145, 178-9,
272.
[1913 Webster]

Note: It derives its form from the Latin Y, which is from the
Greek [Upsilon], originally the same letter as V.
Etymologically, it is most nearly related to u, i, o,
and j. g; as in full, fill, AS. fyllan; E. crypt,
grotto; young, juvenile; day, AS. d[ae]g. See {U}, {I},
and {J}, {G}.
[1913 Webster]

Note: Y has been called the Pythagorean letter, because the
Greek letter [Upsilon] was taken to represent the
sacred triad, formed by the duad proceeding from the
monad; and also because it represents the dividing of
the paths of vice and virtue in the development of
human life.
[1913 Webster]


Y \Y\ ([imac]), pron.
I. [Obs.] --King Horn. --Wyclif.
[1913 Webster] Y


Y- \Y-\, or I- \I-\ . [OE. y-, i-, AS. ge-, akin to D. & G. ge-,
OHG. gi-, ga-, Goth. ga-, and perhaps to Latin con-;
originally meaning, together. Cf. {Com-}, {Aware}, {Enough},
{Handiwork}, {Ywis}.]
A prefix of obscure meaning, originally used with verbs,
adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and pronouns. In the Middle
English period, it was little employed except with verbs,
being chiefly used with past participles, though occasionally
with the infinitive. Ycleped, or yclept, is perhaps the only
word not entirely obsolete which shows this use.
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That no wight mighte it see neither yheere. --Chaucer.
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Neither to ben yburied nor ybrent. --Chaucer.
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Note: Some examples of Chaucer's use of this prefix are; ibe,
ibeen, icaught, ycome, ydo, idoon, ygo, iproved,
ywrought. It inough, enough, it is combined with an
adjective. Other examples are in the Vocabulary.
[1913 Webster] Spenser and later writers frequently
employed this prefix when affecting an archaic style,
and sometimes used it incorrectly.
[1913 Webster]