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ours

Etymology and origin of the English word ours

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1300

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈaʊəz/, /ɑːz/ (UK); /ˈaʊɚz/, /ɑɹz/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English oures, ures, formed from our with the genitive -s, a double possessive.[2][3][4] It originated in northern England.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

That or those belonging to us: about 1300 in Etymonline, before 1300 in the OED.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It took over the absolute function of our.[2] In Middle English ourn and ouren were also used;[2] SOED compares the dialect form ourn.[4] Of ours is from the 14th century.[5] As the Century Dictionary puts it, ours stands to our as hers to her, yours to your and mine to my.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1300 – ours.[2][5]
  • 14th century – of ours.[5]

Modern meaning

Pronoun

  1. The one or ones belonging to or associated with us.

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Ours.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/ours. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·