yours
UK: jɔːz | US: jɔːrz
pron. 1. Used to refer to something belonging to or associated with the person or people being addressed.
pron. 2. (formal) Used in letter closings (e.g., "Yours sincerely").
The word "yours" originates from Middle English youres, formed by adding the possessive suffix -s to the pronoun your (itself derived from Old English ēower, the genitive form of gē, meaning "you"). This construction follows the pattern of other possessive pronouns like hers and theirs, where the suffix -s reinforces ownership. Over time, yours became standardized as the absolute possessive form, distinct from the attributive your.
Is this book yours?
The decision is yours to make.
Yours is the red car parked outside.
"Yours faithfully" is a common closing in formal letters.
The responsibility for this project is now yours.