yesses

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of yes.

   The vote produced a clear majority of yesses over objections.

   A chorus of enthusiastic yesses greeted the announcement of the holiday.

   Note

   A noun made from the answer itself. Once yes names a reply or a vote, it can be counted, and yesses tallies those votes: the yesses carried the motion. The spelling doubles the final s before -es. The same form also serves as the verb's "he yesses" form, so only the surrounding sentence tells the two apart.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of yes.

   He yesses his clients constantly, agreeing to deadlines he can never meet.

   The assistant yesses whatever the director proposes, regardless of the cost.

   Note

   Behind this form stands a colloquial verb. To yes someone is to agree with or approve of them, and to yes with no object is simply to say yes. In slang it means flattering someone by agreeing with them out of habit. That is why "he yesses his boss" sounds like a criticism, not praise. Keep it for casual speech. In formal writing, agrees with or approves usually reads better.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2