poss. pron. Forms: 4–5 þayres, thayres, þair(e)s, thaires, 4–6 þairis, thairis, þeires, theires, 5 þers, therys, 5–6 theyr(e)s, theyr’s, 6 therse, 8–9 their’s, 5– theirs (Sc. thairs). [In form a double possessive, f. THEIR + -es (cf. hers, ours, yours). Of northern origin.] The form of the possessive pron. THEIR, used when no sb. follows, i.e., either absolutely or predicatively: That or those belonging to them. (= F. le, la leur, les leurs; G. der, die, das ihrige, die ihrigen.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22578 (Edinb.). Vntil hir channel sal sco [the sea] turne And als til þayres [Cott. þairs, Gött. þairis, Trin. hores, Laud heris] ilk a burne. Ibid., 14132. A castel was bath his and þairs [Fairf. & Gött. þairis, Trin. þeires].
13[?]. R. Brunne’s Chron. Wace (Rolls), 11632 (Lamb. MS.). Þer nis no power to þeires liche [Petyt MS. non is þer pere ne to þam].
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1527. Heyred hem as hyȝly as heuen wer þayres.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 745. That thai and thairis … Suld be in all thing at his will.
1425. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 296/2. Yat any of the said parties, by yayme or yaires, procede.
c. 1430. Life St. Kath. (1884), 27. Folowe our faders lyke as þey blessedly folewede thayres.
c. 1440. Generydes, 2989. This day is therys, A nother shalbe ourez.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. iii. Telle to them that it is thyn and not theyrs.
1526. Tindale, Matt. v. 10. Theirs ys the kingdome off heven.
1674. Boyle, Excell. Mech. Hypothesis, 7. [They] have no recourse to any peculiar agency of theirs to account for Eclipses.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. iii. 50. The island was theirs.
1853. Whewell, Grotius, III. 377. Theirs is the sounder opinion, who hold that such a grant continues.
1855. Tennyson, Charge Light Brigade, ii. Their’s not to make reply, Their’s not to reason why, Their’s but to do and die.
b. Of theirs: see OF 44.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 3521. That he scholde euere be on of thaires.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr., xxxix. (1908), 197. A frende of theires.
1555. Eden, Decades, 134. A childe of therse.
1564. Brief Exam., **. This gaye booke of theyrs.
1693. Bentley, Boyle Lect., ii. 63. These Atoms of theirs.
1831. Society, I. ii. 16. An old acquaintance of theirs.
† 6. Used instead of THEIR (rare); in 17–18th c. when followed by another possessive, e.g., ‘theirs or our country,’ now ‘their country or ours,’ Obs.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2506. And all onn ane wise fell Till eȝȝþerr þeȝȝress herrte.
1560. Inchaffray Charters (S.H.S.), 167. Als fre as … ouris or thairis granitaris or chalmirlanis … Josit brukit or intromettit with.
1562. Turner, Baths, Ded. For theyrs sake that are honest and vertuous men.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 274. The event fell out contrary to theirs, and according to the Apostles prediction.
1667. Marvell, Corr., lxxviii. Wks. (Grosart), II. 223. Upon the importation … into theirs or our country.
a. 1774. Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Com. Romance (1775), II. 54. He thought it both theirs and his duty to mount immediately.
† d. Maugre theirs: in spite of them, against their will: see MAUGRE prep. 1 c. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 12811. Maugre þeires he dide þem go In to þe wode. Ibid., 15336.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 118. Magre thairis he it wan.
1480. Coventry Leet Bk., 427. Wheder we shall make the people to abide styll here…, magre theirs, or els let hem departe.
