ours
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English oures, attested since the 1300s. Equivalent to our + -s (compare -'s); formed by analogy to his. Displaced ourn (from Middle English ouren) in standard speech.[1]
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation), IPA(key): /ˈaʊəz/, /ɑːz/
- (General American), IPA(key): /ˈaʊɚz/, /ɑɹz/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -aʊə(ɹ)z, -ɑː(ɹ)z
- Homophone: hours
Pronoun edit
ours
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
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References edit
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “ours”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Anagrams edit
French edit
Etymology edit
Inherited from Middle French ours, from Old French urs, from Latin ursus.
The Early Modern French pronunciation was /uʁ/ before consonants, /uʁz/ before vowels, and /uʁs/ in pausa. For the most part, the pausal pronunciations were eventually lost, but in some cases they were re-established as the basic form (reinforced in part by the spelling, in part by related words; in this case perhaps the feminine ourse).
Pronunciation edit
- IPA(key): /uʁs/ (standard)
- IPA(key): /uʁ/ (archaic pronunciation, either for both numbers or only for the plural)
Audio: (file) - Homophones: ourse, ourses
Noun edit
ours m (plural ours, feminine ourse)
- bear (animal)
- (figurative) A person like a bear:
- masthead, imprint (list of a publication's main staff)
- (cinematography) rough cut
- (slang) prison, jail
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
Further reading edit
- “ours”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
- “ours” in Dico en ligne Le Robert.
Middle English edit
Pronoun edit
ours
- Alternative form of oures
Middle French edit
Etymology edit
From Old French urs, from Latin ursus.
Noun edit
ours m (plural ours, feminine singular ourse, feminine plural ourses)
- bear (mammal)
Descendants edit
- French: ours