Plural of yea; affirmative votes in a formal decision-making process. Expressions of agreement or approval.
From Old English 'gea' meaning 'yes,' related to Proto-Germanic 'ja.' The word is cognate with German 'ja' and has been used in formal voting contexts since medieval times. The parliamentary usage distinguishes it from casual 'yes' responses.
While 'yea' and 'yes' both mean agreement, 'yea' has survived primarily in formal voting because it's slightly shorter and more sonorous when called out in chambers. The phrase 'yeas and nays' in parliamentary procedure preserves this ancient word that might otherwise have disappeared from English.
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