the meaning of yet

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of yet in the following sentences?

1. Lured by the richest land yet found in the country, pioneers poured over the Appalachian Mountains and beyond.

2. This common possession of millions of hectares was the most tangible evidence yet of nationality and unity, and gave a certain substance to the idea of national sovereignty. At the same time, these vast territories were a problem that required solution.

[ursula62]

In these sentences the word "yet" means "so far" or "at this point in time", e.g. "Lured by the richest land so far discovered in the country..." "...the most tangible evidence discovered up to this particular point in time...".

"Yet" means all of the following: "Up till now"; "So far"; "Thus far"; "Hitherto"; and "Until now" .

"Yet" is also used like a preposition, in that case it means "However" or  "But".

With some English words, the meaning depends on the context.

If you're learning English as a second language and the dictionary has more than one meaning for  a word (like YET), try swapping the word you don't quite understand with different words until you find one that fits what you think the sentence means. Then look that word up in the dictionary and see if it coincides with one of the definitions for your first word.  

And don't stop asking questions when you don't quite understand.

Remember, the only stupid question is the one you were too scared to ask.

[Peter Pedant]

hi kay jay - have a good week end by the way

in both sentences, yet means 'up to that time'

It is an adverb.

The fact that words have different meanings depending on where they are in the sentence should not be news to you, as it must occur in your own language.