Adjacent Words

yours definitions

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Merriam Webster's

pronoun, singular or plural in construction Etymology: Middle English, from your + -s -'s Date: 1526 that which belongs to you — used without a following noun as a pronoun equivalent in meaning to the adjective your <this book is yours> — often used especially with an adverbial modifier in the complimentary close of a letter <yours truly>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

poss.pron. 1 the one or ones belonging to or associated with you (it is yours; yours are over there). 2 your letter (yours of the 10th). 3 introducing a formula ending a letter (yours ever; yours truly). Phrases and idioms: of yours of or belonging to you (a friend of yours).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

You You ([=u]), pron. [Possess. Your ([=u]r) or Yours ([=u]rz); dat. & obj. You.] [OE. you, eou, eow, dat. & acc., AS. e['o]w, used as dat. & acc. of ge, g[=e], ye; akin to OFries. iu, io, D. u, G. euch, OHG. iu, dat., iuwih, acc., Icel. y[eth]r, dat. & acc., Goth. izwis; of uncertain origin. [root]189. Cf. Your.] The pronoun of the second person, in the nominative, dative, and objective case, indicating the person or persons addressed. See the Note under Ye. Ye go to Canterbury; God you speed. --Chaucer. Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you To leave this place. --Shak. In vain you tell your parting lover You wish fair winds may waft him over. --Prior. Note: Though you is properly a plural, it is in all ordinary discourse used also in addressing a single person, yet properly always with a plural verb. ``Are you he that hangs the verses on the trees, wherein Rosalind is so admired ?'' --Shak. You and your are sometimes used indefinitely, like we, they, one, to express persons not specified. ``The looks at a distance like a new-plowed land; but as you come near it, you see nothing but a long heap of heavy, disjointed clods.'' --Addison. ``Your medalist and critic are much nearer related than the world imagine.'' --Addison. ``It is always pleasant to be forced to do what you wish to do, but what, until pressed, you dare not attempt.'' --Hook. You is often used reflexively for yourself of yourselves. ``Your highness shall repose you at the tower.'' --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Yours Yours (["u]rz), pron. See the Note under Your.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Thou Thou, pron. [Sing.: nom. Thou; poss. Thyor Thine; obj. Thee. Pl.: nom. You; poss. Youror Yours; obj. You.] [OE. thou, [thorn]u, AS. [eth][=u], [eth]u; akin to OS. & OFries. thu, G., Dan. & Sw. du, Icel. [thorn][=u], Goth. [thorn]u, Russ. tui, Ir. & Gael. tu, W. ti, L. tu, Gr. sy`, Dor. ty`, Skr. tvam. [root]185. Cf. Thee, Thine, Te Deum.] The second personal pronoun, in the singular number, denoting the person addressed; thyself; the pronoun which is used in addressing persons in the solemn or poetical style. Art thou he that should come? --Matt. xi. 3. Note: ``In Old English, generally, thou is the language of a lord to a servant, of an equal to an equal, and expresses also companionship, love, permission, defiance, scorn, threatening: whilst ye is the language of a servant to a lord, and of compliment, and further expresses honor, submission, or entreaty.'' --Skeat. Note: Thou is now sometimes used by the Friends, or Quakers, in familiar discourse, though most of them corruptly say thee instead of thou.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. Note: 'Yours' is the second person possessive pronoun. 'Yours' can refer to one or more people. 1. A speaker or writer uses yours to refer to something that belongs or relates to the person or people that they are talking or writing to. I'll take my coat upstairs. Shall I take yours, Roberta?... I believe Paul was a friend of yours... If yours is a high-stress job, it is important that you learn how to cope. PRON 2. People write yours, yours sincerely, or yours faithfully at the end of a letter before they sign their name. With best regards, Yours, George... Yours faithfully, Michael Moore, London Business School... yours truly: see truly CONVENTION