Definition of mine

The word "mine" has a fascinating history. The earliest recorded use of the word "mine" dates back to around 1200 CE, during the Middle English period. It comes from the Old English word "mins," which meant "belonging to me" or "my own." This Old English word is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*minsiz," which was also the source of the Modern English word "my." Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word "mine" evolved, and by the 16th century, it had taken on its modern meaning as a possessive adjective, as in "my mine" or "this mine." The word also developed a sense of intimacy and familiarity, as seen in phrases like "mine own" or "my own mine." Today, we use "mine" as a possessive adjective to show ownership or association, such as "my mine" or "whose mine is this?"