whose

Meanings

1. 1
   det

   Of whom, belonging to whom; which person's or people's.

   Whose (wallet) is this?

2. 2
   det

   Of whom, belonging to whom.

   This is the man whose dog caused the accident.

3. 3
   det

   Of which, belonging to which.

   We saw several houses whose roofs were falling off.

4. 4
   pron

   That or those of whom or belonging to whom.

   Several people have lost their suitcases. Whose have you found?

5. 5
   det

   Honorific alternative letter-case form of whose, sometimes used when referring to God or another important figure who is understood from context.

   Saviour, Whose love constrained them / To toil with zeal untired,

6. 6
   contraction

   Misspelling of who's.

Etymology

From Middle English whos, from Old English hwæs, from Proto-Germanic *hwes, genitive case of *hwaz (“who”) *hwat (“what”).