whose
UK: huːz | US: huːz
pron. belonging to or associated with which person
pron. of whom or which (used to introduce a relative clause)
The word "whose" originates from Old English hwæs, the genitive form of hwā (who). The suffix -se is a fossilized genitive marker, akin to modern -'s (e.g., "John's"). Over time, hwæs evolved into "whose," retaining its function to indicate possession in both interrogative ("Whose book is this?") and relative clauses ("the person whose idea succeeded"). The logic mirrors Latin cuius and Germanic genitive structures, emphasizing relational ownership.
Whose keys are on the table?
She is the artist whose work inspired me.
The house whose roof is red belongs to my uncle.
Do you know whose phone rang during the meeting?
The company, whose profits doubled this year, plans to expand.