Your

poss. pron. and a. 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 ouro, 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 yer, 4– your. (For inflexional adj. forms see 2 a β.) [f. OE. éower, usually in partitive sense, the genitive of ʓé 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, “The moment I had read Your letter I sat down to write Mine”; but when it is not emphatical it generally sinks into yur, exactly like the last syllable of Law-yer: as, “I had just answered yur first letter as yur last arrived.” Here if we were to say, “I had just answered your first letter as your last arrived,” 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 favor 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 suneȝad.

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.  James 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.  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.  Shaks., 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^r 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.

1814.  Scott, Wav., xxx. D’ye hear wha’s coming to cow yer cracks?

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 ʓefricgean fleam eowerne.

c. 897.  K. 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., 170. Godes Gast eowres Fæder.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 656. Þet ʓeo 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.  Golagros & Gaw., 114. Lord, wendis on your way.

1613.  Shaks., 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.  Maria 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 honor 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 sbs.

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 sb. denoting the speaker or writer himself, esp. in the subscription of a letter: see also SERVANT sb. 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, ressair, Quhilk is … Ȝour fay^tfull hairt w^t trew intent.

1611.  Shaks., 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^r loving Father Charles R.

1654.  R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 352. She 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, trans. 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, Lett., in Life (1879), I. 146. Your own Daddy, Charles Kingsley.

  † 3.  absol. or as pron. (predicatively, or standing for your + sb.) = YOURS. Obs.

971.  Blickl. Hom., xi. 117. Nis þæt eower … þæt ʓe witan þa þraʓe & þa tide þa þe Fæder ʓesette 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 suiftore 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. love 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. Ibid. (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: Or you. Now rare or Obs. exc. in certain phrases, as in your despite.

c. 1175.  Pater Noster, 221, in Lamb. Hom., 67. Ower hating forȝere 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, Lett. 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.  Chesterf., 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.  Mrs. Eliza Nathan, Langreath, III. 253. I hope our union will be the means of renewing your intimacy.

  5.  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.  Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 32. Euen the wisest of your great beaters, do as oft punishe nature, as they do correcte faultes.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 33. There is not a more fearefull wilde foule then your Lyon liuing. Ibid. (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.  Shaks., 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.