German

bejahen

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to affirm, approve, answer something in the affirmative

Opposite of
verneinen
Pronounced as (IPA)
/bəˈjaːən/
Etymology

16th century, equivalent to be- + ja (“yes”) + -en (with -h- as orthographic hiatus breaker). While the verb may have been derived directly from the interjection ja, an alternative possibility is that it is a reinterpretation of Middle High German bejëhen (“to acknowledge, admit”), from jëhen (“to say”). The according spelling bejähen is indeed attested in the 17th century.

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