your, poss. pron. and a.
(jʊə(r), usually unemphatic jɔː(r))
Forms: 1 iower, Northumb. iuer, iwer, 1–3 eower, 2 euwer, ȝuer, ower, 3 eouwer, eou(e)r, æ(o)uwer, eur, ouwer, owur, our, or, ȝiuer, ȝiwer, ȝiuwer, 3–4 oure, ȝ(i)ur, 3–5 ȝure, yure, (6 Sc.) ȝoure, (6–8 Sc.) ȝour, 4 hour, ȝiuor, ȝouure, yur, yor, 4–5 ȝor, ȝore, ȝowr(e, youre, ȝhour(e, yhour(e, 5 yowr(e, yowyr, -ur, ywyr, yooure, iho(i)re, 5–6 yower, 6 iour, 9 Sc. yere, dial. yore, dial. and vulgar 4– your. See also yer2. (For inflexional adj. forms see 2 a β.)
[I. OE. éower, usually in partitive sense, the genitive of ᵹé ye pron., corresponding to OFris. iuwer, OS. iuwar, iwar, OHG. iuwêr (MHG. iuwer, G. euer); cf. ON. yðr, Goth. izvara. II. OE. éower, éowru, éower, poss. adj., corresponding to OHG. iuwar, iwar (MHG. iuwer, iwer, G. euer); cf. ON. yð(v)arr, Goth. izvar. The other langs. had a distinct formation for the adj.: OFris. iuwe, OS. i(u)wa (MDu. u, inflected uwe, Du. uw).
On the pronunciation John Walker in his Pronouncing Dict. 1791, says: ‘When the emphasis is upon this word, it is always pronounced full and open like the noun Ewer; as, {oqq}The moment I had read Your letter I sat down to write Mine{cqq}; but when it is not emphatical it generally sinks into yur, exactly like the last syllable of Law-yer; as, {oqq}I had just answered yur first letter as yur last arrived.{cqq} Here if we were to say, {oqq}I had just answered your first letter as your last arrived,{cqq} with your sounded full and open like Ewer, as in the former sentence, every delicate ear would be offended.’
Since this was written, there has been a reaction in favour of less obscuration of the vowel.]
1. As genitive case of the 2nd personal pronoun. † a. (pl.) in partitive sense: Of you. your aller: see all D. 4. Obs.
| Beowulf 248 Eower sum. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. vi. 27 Quis..uestrum, huælc..iurre [Rushw. hwilc eower]. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 15 Swa muchel þa wredða bid þe mare bi-twenen eow and eour eyþer suneȝað. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3471 Ilc ȝure. 13.. K. Horn 821 (Harl. MS.) Ȝef oure þre sleh ure on. c 1330 Amis & Amil. 852 Your noither it may forsake. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 162 Þat I be ȝour aller broþer. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 4146 Bote it be amended,..ȝour summe it schal abye. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. cxiii, I will that gude hope seruand to the be, Ȝoure alleris frend. [1556 Careless in Coverdale Lett. Martyrs (1564) 610, I woulde haue stryken iij. strokes the more for your two sakes.] |
b. (pl. or sing.) in certain absolute constructions, as † your alone, Sc. your lane (lone a. 6 b), † your unwitting: see these words.
2. As possessive pronoun and adjective of the 2nd person: Of or belonging to you, that you have.
This includes three uses: the possessive proper, as your books, your hands, your friends; the subjective, as your attention, your promise; and the objective with an agent-noun, or in any way involving the possessive idea, as your persecutors, your benefit. (For other objective uses see 4.) Cf. note s.v. his poss. pron. 2 a.
a. as possessive plural, referring to a number of persons addressed.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter xxx. 25 Cor vestrum, heorte eower. a 1000 Cædmon's Exod. 563 Bið eower blæd micel. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 13 Ȝe beoð iseald eower feonde to prisune. Ibid. 29 For godes luue beteð ower sunnen. c 1200 Vices & Virtues 7 For ȝuer lieue saule. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1699 Ich eu wolde alle rede..Þat eur [Cott. ower] fihtlak leteþ beo. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10285 Inot nout, quaþ þe king, wat ower demande be. Commune riȝt, quaþ pandulf, we esseþ & nammore. a 1300 Cursor M. 4844 Tells me Quat-kin man yur fader be. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 976 Blessede mote ȝe alle be For ȝoure preyers haþ saued me. 1370–80 Visions of St. Paul 313 in O.E. Misc. 231 Ȝe weore lyȝers al ȝor lyf. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 701 Allas thou felle Mars, allas Iuno, Thus hath youre Ire oure kynrede al fordo. c 1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Aug. 6 Ȝour tables matrimonial þat wer mad be-twix ȝou and ȝour husbandis at ȝour weddyng. 1508 Dunbar Gold. Targe 265 Your angel mouthis most mellifluate Our rude langage has clere illumynate. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. iv. 26 In dumbe significants proclayme your thoughts. 1616 Sir W. Mure Misc. Poems xi. 1 Gaise, eyes, on nocht quhich can content ȝo{supr} sight. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 185 Let him your rubric and your feasts prescribe. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 66 The power..of the house of commons..is as a drop of water in the ocean, compared to that residing in a settled majority of your National Assembly. 1872 ‘Mark Twain’ Sp. (1910) 97 The names rise up in your own memories at the mere suggestion. |
(β) OE. and ME. inflexional adj. forms: 1 eowre, -u (etc.), 2 (ȝ)iure, 2–3 eo(u)were, eowre, 3 ȝ(o)ure, (e)ore, æ(o)ure, oure, owre, woure.
| Beowulf 2889 Syððan æðelingas Feorran ᵹefricgean fleam eowerne. c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xvi. 98 Eft sona cirrað to eowrum ryhthæmde. Ibid. xxxii. 211 For eowerre fortruwodnesse. Ibid. lix. 451 Ðios eowru leaf. 971 Blickl. Hom. 171 Godes Gast eowres Fæder. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 656 Þet ᵹeo hit write mid iure fingre. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 217 Al swa an huni tiar felle upe ȝiure hierte. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 5 Beð wakiende and forleteð ȝure synne. a 1250 Prov. ælfred 33 in O.E. Misc. 104 Hw ye myhte worldes wrþsipes welde, and ek eure saule somnen to criste. c 1250 Doomsday 68 in O.E. Misc. 166 Comeþ her mine freond oure [c 1275 eure] sunnes for to lete. c 1290 St. Eustace 28 in S. Eng. Leg. 393 Nim hire and evwere twei sones. c 1300 Havelok 171 Mi douther þat shal be Yure leuedi after me. |
b. as possessive singular, referring to one person addressed (originally as a mark of respect, later generally: cf. you II.): replacing thy.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10310 Ȝe mowe þretni ynou, Ower dede ne may be no wors þan ower word is. 13.. Bonaventura's Medit. 469 To þe fadyr of heuene she [sc. Our Lady] made þys mone:..He [sc. Christ] ys so buxum to do ȝoure wyl, Þat he nat chargeþ hym self to spyl. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. i. 43 ‘Madame, mercy,’ quod I ‘me liketh wel ȝowre wordes.’ c 1400 Rule St. Benet (Prose) xxx. 23 Lauerd, for yure pite ye gete vs fra sinne. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 114 Lord, wendis on your way. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, v. i. 167 Sir, your Queen Desires your Visitation. 1668 Dryden Even. Love iv. iii, Take back your oathes and protestations..take 'em..for the use of your next Mistress. 1726 Gay in Swift's Lett. (1766) II. 68, I gave your service to lady Harvey. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T., Prussian Vase, Take your time to speak. We are in no hurry. 1884 ‘Edna Lyall’ We Two i, You must be content with your own people. |
c. In titles of honour substituted for you in addressing a person (or persons) of high rank, as your Excellency, your Grace, your Highness, your Honour, your Lordship, your Majesty: see the ns.
| c 1368 Chaucer Compl. Pite 59 Sheweth vn-to youre rialle excellence Youre servaunt, yf I durst me so calle, Hys mortal harme. 1423 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 249 Please it your full wyse discretions, to consider the matier. 1433 in Hist. Sudbury (1896) 125 To youre ryght Reverent lordshepe and faderhod in God. c 1590 Greene Fr. Bacon xvi, In Royallizing Henries Albion With presence of your princely mightinesse. 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster iii. i, Sir, your silkenesse Cleerely mistakes Mecænas, and his house. 1656 Harrington Oceana (1658) 198 These are to certifie unto your Fatherhoods, that the said Votes of the People were as followeth. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. 19 Your Mightiness has indeed guess'd at my Thoughts. a 1814 Gonzanga ii. ii. in New Brit. Theatre III. 119 My son wasn't grand enough for your Royal Highness-ship! 1851 Househ. Words III. 64/1 Never was there one of the cloth who addressed a fare otherwise than as ‘Your Grace’. |
d. Qualifying a n. denoting the speaker or writer himself, esp. in the subscription of a letter: see also servant n. 4 d.
| 1418 Abp. Chichele in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. I. 5 Wryten at Lamhyth xvj day of Febr. ȝour preest and bedeman H. C. 1477 Paston Lett. III. 186 By your John Pympe. c 1514 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. I. 119 Yowr on whyl I lefe Mary. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) ix. 13 This woundit hairt, sweit hairt, ressaif, Quhilk is..Ȝour fay{supt}full hairt w{supt} trew intent. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. iii. ii. 47 So he wishes you all happinesse, that remaines loyall to his Vow, and your encreasing in Loue, Leonatus Posthumus. 1629 Sir F. Hubert Hist. Edw. II. Ep. Ded., And so..I rest, not your Servant according to the new and fine, but false Phrase of the Time, but in honest old English, your loving Brother, and true Friend for euer. 1647 Chas. I. in Antiquary (1880) I. 97/1 Yo{supr} loving Father Charles R. 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 352 Some counts it as pleasant to converse with Historians,..though now rotten, as with the finest perfumed Your-humble-Servant-Madam alive. 1721 Ramsay Patie & Roger 36 Yet may I please you, while I'm your Devoted Allan. 1746 Francis tr. Hor., Epist. i. vii. 3 Yet August roll'd away, And left your Loiterer here. 1837 Hood in Mem. (1860) I. 217 Your old Unitarian in love, T. H. 1848 Kingsley Let. in Life (1879) I. 146 Your own Daddy, Charles Kingsley. |
† 3. absol. or as pron. (predicatively, or standing for your + n.) = yours. Obs.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. xi. 117 Nis þæt eower..þæt ᵹe witan þa þraᵹe & þa tide þa þe Fæder ᵹesette on his mihte. a 1250 Prov. ælfred 213 in O.E. Misc. 114 Lvsteþ ye me, leode; ower is þe neode, And ich eu wille lere wit and wisdom. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8174 Ne se ȝe þat ȝare hors beþ sulftore þan ȝoure be? 13.. K. Alis. 2138 (Linc. Inn MS.) Y kepe nouȝt bote honour, Al þe bygate schal beo ȝour. c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 695, I wol be youre in al that euere I may. a 1400 Sqr. lowe Degre 546 For ye are myne and i am your. ? a 1400 Arthur 286 Hys worthynesse, sur Emperour, Passeþ Muche alle ȝowre. 1540 J. Heywood Four P.P. (Manly) 838 Helpe me to speke with my lorde and your. 1556 ― Spider & F. lxxiv, I had woordes of thanke from the mouth of your. a 1625 Fletcher Fair Maid ii. i, This affront of your. |
4. As objective genitive, qualifying a noun of action or the like: Of you. Now rare or Obs. exc. in certain phrases, as in your despite.
| c 1175 Pater Noster 221 in Lamb. Hom. 67 Ower hating forȝefe ȝe; þin sunful efenling luue him for godes þing. 1481 Caxton Reynard the Fox xxxiv. (Arb.) 100 One..whiche..was your better and wyser. 1562 Winȝet Cert. Tractates Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 4 Quhidder sal we begin ȝour commendation and louing at ȝour haly lyfes, or at ȝoure helthful doctrine, we ar doutsum. 1659 Fuller Appeal, Let. to Dr. C. Burges, Abler Men are undertaking your Confutation. 1661 Feltham Lusoria etc. 79 While I stay, you cannot want an Agent that will glory in your imployment. 1690 Dryden Don Sebastian v. (1692) 102, I can hold my breath in your despight. 1751 Chesterfield Lett. (1892) I. cliii. 386, I have not yet heard from Lady Hervey upon your subject. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 136 [He] would be nearly distracted with joy at your sight. 1822 E. Nathan Langreath III. 253, I hope our union will be the means of renewing your intimacy. |
5. a. Used more or less vaguely of something which the person or persons addressed may be expected to possess, or have to do with in some way: cf. his poss. pron. 2 b.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 17 Alle cunne ower crede..þeih ȝe alle nuten hwat hit biqueðe. 1585 Jas. I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 55 To knaw the quantitie of zour lang or short fete in they lynes. 1682 Dryden & Lee Dk. Guise ii. ii, Your Air, your Mien,..Will kill at least your thousand in a Day. 1773 Mrs. Chapone Improv. Mind x. (1774) II. 183 The most ancient of all histories, you will read in your Bible. 1808 Syd. Smith Lett. on Cath. i, You (if you had lived in those times) would certainly have roasted your Catholic. 1865 Ruskin Sesame i. §23 Take up your Latin and Greek dictionaries, and find out the meaning of ‘Spirit’. |
b. Used with no definite meaning, or vaguely implying ‘that you know of’, corresponding to the ‘ethical dative’ you (you 7): often expressing contempt.
| a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. i. (Arb.) 32 Euen the wisest of your great beaters, do as oft punishe nature, as they do correcte faultes. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iii. i. 33 There is not a more fearefull wilde foule then your Lyon liuing. 1602 ― Ham. v. i. 188 Your water is a sore Decayer of your horson dead body. 1610 B. Jonson Alch. iv. iv, Your Spanish Pauin is the best daunce. 1653 H. More Antid. Ath. ii. ix. §3 That grave Awfulness, as in your best breed of Mastiffs. 1703 Rowe Ulysses Epil. 18 Your Sal, and Harts-horn Drops, they deal not in. 1759 R. Brown Compl. Farmer 19 A good hardy sort [of cows] are your Angleseys and Welsh. 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsem. xv. (1809) 122 Your Gentleman now-a-days, must have to his bridle two head stalls, and two reins. 1851 E. FitzGerald Euphranor 76 They valse very well, which is enough for me,—I hate your accomplished women. 1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 92, I hate Your meek and milky girls that dare not kiss A burning passion, clinging to your lips. |
6. As possessive of the indefinite pronoun (you 6): One's, any one's.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. i. 233 In these times you stand on distance: your Passes, Stoccado's, and I know not what. 1708 Caldwell Papers (Maitland Club) I. 213 Here [sc. Hanover] there is no living without them [sc. curtains], one whole side of your house being glass. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. 115 They may be well term'd discharging ones Duty with a good Grace, wearing your Fetters with no Inclination to Freedom. 1870 Lowell Study Wind., Thoreau, He wishes..to trump your suit and to ruff when you least expect it. |