Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old Norse
Origin: theirra 'theirs'

their

 determiner
     
their S1 W1 [possessive form of 'they']
1 belonging to or connected with people or things that have already been mentioned:
They washed their faces and went to bed.
The twins spend all their time together.
People had moved back into their own homes.
2 used when talking about someone who may be male or female, to avoid saying 'his or her':
Everyone is free to express their own opinion.
Each student will have their own course-work folder.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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