whose
|whose|
A2
/huːz/
belonging to whom
Etymology
Etymology Information
'whose' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'hwæs,' where 'hw-' meant 'who' and '-æs' was a genitive case ending.
Historical Evolution
'hwæs' transformed into the Middle English word 'whos,' and eventually became the modern English word 'whose'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'of whom,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Pronoun 1
used to indicate the person or people that something belongs to.
Whose book is this?
Synonyms
Determiner 1
belonging to or associated with which person.
Whose idea was it to come here?
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35