Emily Dickinson Lexicon

YIELD, v.t. [Sax. gieldan, gildan, gyldan, to render, to pay. But the word seems to be directly from the W. gildiaw, to produce, to yield, to concede, to contribute. The sense is obvious.]

1. To produce, as land, stock or funds; to give in return for labor, or as profit. Lands yield not more than three per cent annually; houses yield four or five per cent. Maiz on good land, yields two or three hundred fold.
2. To produce, in general. Most vegetable juices yield a salt.
3. To afford; to exhibit. The flowers in spring yield a beautiful sight.
4. To allow; to concede; to admit to be true; as, to yield the point in debate. We yield that there is a God.
5. To give, as claimed of right; as, to yield due honors; to yield due praise.
6. To permit; to grant. Life is but air, / That yields a passage to the whistling sword. – Dryden.
7. To emit; to give up. To yield the breath, is to expire.
8. To resign; to give up; sometimes with up or over; as, to yield up their own opinions. We yield the place to our superiors.
9. To surrender; sometimes with up; as, to yield a fortress to the enemy; or to yield up a fortress.