This verb _be_ was formerly used in this phrase; _be my faith, be my troth_; that is, _by my faith_, as in Chevy Chace.[92] We still find the same verb in a multitude of compounds, _be-come_, _be-yond_, _be-tween_, _be-side_, _be-fore_. Thus we see what are called _prepositions_, are mere combinations or corruptions of verbs; they are not a primitive part of language, and if we resolve this phrase, _he went beyond me_, we shall find it composed of these words, _he went_, _be_, _gone_, _me_; _yond_ being nothing but the participle of _go_. Will my grammatical readers believe me, when I assert that the affirmation _yea_, or _yes_, is a verb? That it is so, is undeniable. The English _yea_, _yes_, and the German _ja_, pronounced _yaw_, are derived from a verb in the Imperative Mode; or rather, they are but corruptions of _aye_, the Imperative of the French _avoir_, to have. The pure word _aye_, is still used in English. The affirmation _yea_ or _yes_, is _have_, an expression of assent, _have what you say_.[93] That all the words, called _adverbs_, are abbreviations or combinations of nouns, verbs and adjectives, cannot perhaps be proved; for it is extremely difficult to trace the little words, _when_, _then_, _there_, _here_, &c. to their true origin.[94] But excepting a few, the whole class of words, denominated _adverbs_, can be resolved into other parts of speech. The termination _ly_, which forms a large proportion of these words, is derived from the Saxon _liche_, _like_. "And as an angel heaven_lich_ she sung." Chaucer, Cant. Tales, 1057. We have in a few words retained the original pronunciation, as _Godlike_; but in strictness of speech, there is no difference between _Godlike_ and _Godly_.[95]