You (ū), pron. [Possess. Your
(ūr) or Yours (ūrz); dat. & obj.
You.]
[OE. you,
eou, eow, dat. & acc., AS. eów, used as dat. & acc. of ge, gē, ye; akin to
OFries. iu, io, D.
u, G. euch, OHG.
iu, dat., iuwih, acc., Icel. yðr, dat. & acc., Goth.
izwis; of uncertain
origin. √189. Cf. Your.] The pronoun of the second person, in the nominative, dative, and objective case, indicating the person or
persons addressed. See the Note under Ye.
Ye go to Canterbury; God you speed.
Chaucer. Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you
To leave this
place.
Shak.
In vain you tell your parting lover
You wish fair winds may waft him
over.
Prior. &fist; Though you is properly a
plural, it is in all ordinary discourse used
also in addressing a single person, yet properly always with a plural
verb. "Are you he that
hangs the verses on the trees, wherein Rosalind is so admired
?" Shak. You and
your are sometimes used indefinitely, like we, they, one, to express persons not specified.
"The looks at a
distance like a new-plowed land; but as
you come near it, you see nothing but a
long heap of heavy, disjointed clods." Addison. "Your medalist and critic are much nearer related than the world imagine." Addison. "It is always pleasant to be forced to
do what you wish to
do, but what, until pressed, you dare not attempt." Hook. You is often used reflexively for yourself of yourselves. "Your highness shall repose you at the tower."
Shak.
Hear it pronounced