-'s en · X · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /əz/ (US)
- /ɪz/ (US)
- ĭz (US)
- z elsewhere
- s
- /əz/ (Australia)
- əz (US)
- /s/
- /ɪz/ (UK)
- ĭz (UK)
- /z/ elsewhere
- əz (Australia)
Etymology
From Middle English -s, -es, from Old English -es (“-'s”, masculine and neuter genitive singular ending), from Proto-Germanic *-as, *-is (masculine and neuter genitive singular ending). The apostrophe was added under the false belief that it was a contraction of English his, and retained to distinguish it from the plural. Cognate with Dutch -s, -es (“-'s”), German -s, -es (“-'s”), Danish -s, -es (“-'s”), Swedish -s (“-'s”), Norwegian -s (“-'s”), Icelandic -s (“-'s”).
Meanings
-
(enclitic, morpheme) A possessive marker, indicating that an object belongs to the noun or noun phrase bearing the marker.
The cat bit the dog with the shaggy fur's tail. (the dog with the shaggy fur + 's)
women's contributions to science
Jane's house is bigger than Sarah's.
Before kick-off, a section of Chelsea's support sadly let themselves and their club down by noisily interrupting the silence held in memory of the Hillsborough disaster and for Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, who collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack during a Serie B game on Saturday.
2012 April 15, Phil McNulty, “Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea”, in BBC:The cat bit the dog's tail. (the dog + 's)
-
(enclitic, morpheme) In the absence of a specified object, used to indicate “the house/place/establishment of”.
We'll arrive at Jose and María's in time for dinner.
greengrocer's
I bought it at Tesco's. (see s-form)
I'm going to the butcher's for a steak.
-
(enclitic, morpheme) Indicates a purpose or a user.
people's
That's a girl's toy. (A toy intended for use by girls.) — Homographic to: That's a girl's toy. (The toy of a specific girl.)
You need a driver's license.
Alex can be a girl's name.
-
(enclitic, morpheme) Used to indicate a quantity of something, especially of time.
I took three weeks' holiday.
The rocks lay at about a mile's distance from the shore.
-
(enclitic, morpheme) Used to indicate various other kinds of relationship, such as source or origin, object of an action, subject depicted, etc.
JFK Airport is among America's busiest.
the King's capture (event of the King being captured)
the doctor's help (help provided by the doctor)
in Dublin's fair city (in the fair city of Dublin)
She got angry at my niece's trying to lie to us.
my father's portrait (portrait depicting my father)
-
(enclitic, morpheme) Attached to a noun or noun phrase linked to a genitive of, forming a double genitive (Compare of mine, etc.)
a friend of Sarah's
NAy, but this dotage of our Generals Ore-flowes the meaſure: […]
c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 340, column 1:Have you heard this new idea of our boss's?
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| -’s | alternative | lexicographic | |
| -s | alternative, nonstandard | lexicographic | |
| -s- | alternative | lexicographic |
Descendants
Synonyms
Translations (76)
ru -ов (possessive marker) · tr -ın (possessive marker) · lo ຂອງ (possessive marker) · hi की (possessive marker) · no -s (possessive marker) · hi के (possessive marker) · tr -nın -nün (possessive marker) · fr chez (the house/place/establishment of) · tr -un (possessive marker) · bn -এর (possessive marker) · ja つ (possessive marker) · tr -ün (possessive marker) · tr -nun (possessive marker) · yue 的 (possessive marker) · cmn 的 (possessive marker) · ur کا (possessive marker) · es de (possessive marker) · th ของ (possessive marker) · da hos (the house/place/establishment of) · tr -gil (the house/place/establishment of) · sv -s (possessive marker) · ru -ин (possessive marker) · nap 'e (possessive marker) · cmn 之 (possessive marker) · el της (possessive marker) · cs -in (possessive marker) · nl bij (the house/place/establishment of) · tr -in (possessive marker) · crh -nıñ (possessive marker) · hu -é (possessive marker) · he אצל (the house/place/establishment of) · gmw-ecg -sch (possessive marker) · hy -յի (possessive marker) · gmw-ecg -s (possessive marker) · cs -ův (possessive marker) · ams な (possessive marker) · it di (possessive marker) · my ၏ (possessive marker) · fi -n (possessive marker) · fy -'s (possessive marker) · ja の (possessive marker) · bg на (possessive marker) · el του (possessive marker) · ru -ев (possessive marker) · tr -nin (possessive marker) · nl van (possessive marker) · ur کے (possessive marker) · fr de (possessive marker) · ru -ёв (possessive marker) · af se (possessive marker) · de -s (possessive marker) · ms milik (possessive marker) · km នៃ (possessive marker) · ur کی (possessive marker) · ja が (possessive marker) · nl -s (possessive marker) · yue 之 (possessive marker) · eo de (possessive marker) · ru -ын (possessive marker) · ur کی (possessive marker) · vi của (possessive marker) · pt de (possessive marker) · he שֶׁל (possessive marker) · yue 嘅 (possessive marker) · hi का (possessive marker) · fy fan (possessive marker) · it da (the house/place/establishment of) · hu -ék (the house/place/establishment of) · crh -niñ (possessive marker) · az -gil (the house/place/establishment of) · ko 의 (possessive marker) · bn -র (possessive marker) · hy -ի (possessive marker) · ja ん (possessive marker) · hi की (possessive marker) · el των (possessive marker)