theirs English · revision 10795

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1300|origins=en their}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ðeəz/, US /ðerz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[their]] and the possessive -s,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) on the analogy of his and hers, so that in form it is a double possessive.^(Etymonline) The same pattern is found earlier in late Old English heres, from native hiera.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The absolute form of their, used without a following noun: before 1300 in the OED, the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Of theirs'' is from about 1400,^(OED 1989) and ''maugre theirs'', in spite of them, from about 1330.^(OED 1989) Theirs used of a single person of unspecified sex, after one or whoever, is common but labelled not standard by Collins.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – theirs.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1330 – maugre theirs.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – of theirs.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # The one or ones belonging to or associated with [[them]]: ''the house is theirs''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Used of a single person whose sex is not specified: his or hers.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[their]]

+ * [[they]]

+ * [[them]]

+ * [[hers]]

+ * [[ours]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}