 4 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Owe \Owe\ ([=o]), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Owed} ([=o]d), ({Ought}
([add]t) obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Owing} ([=o]"[i^]ng).] [OE.
owen, awen, aghen, to have, own, have (to do), hence, owe,
AS. [=a]gan to have; akin to G. eigen, adjective, own, Icel. eiga to
have, Dan. eie, Sw. ["a]ga, Goth. ['a]igan, Skr. [imac][,c].
[root]110. Cf. {Ought}, v., 2d {Own}, {Fraught}.]
1. To possess; to have, as the rightful owner; to own. [Obs.]
Thou dost here usurp
The name thou ow'st not. --Shak.
2. To have or possess, as something derived or bestowed; to
be obliged to ascribe (something to some source); to be
indebted or obliged for; as, he owed his wealth to his
father; he owed his victory to his lieutenants. --Milton.
O deem thy fall not owed to man's decree. --Pope.
3. Hence: To have or be under an obigation to restore, pay,
or render (something) in return or compensation for
something received; to be indebted in the sum of; as, the
subject owes allegiance; the fortunate owe assistance to
the unfortunate.
The one ought five hundred pence, and the other
fifty. --Bible
(1551).
A son owes help and honor to his father. --Holyday.
Note: Owe was sometimes followed by an objective clause
introduced by the infinitive. ''Ye owen to incline and
bow your heart.'' --Chaucer.
4. To have an obligation to (some one) on account of
something done or received; to be indebted to; as, to owe
the grocer for supplies, or a laborer for services.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Ought \Ought\ ([add]t), noun & adverb
See {Aught}.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Ought \Ought\, imp., p. p., or auxiliary. [Orig. the preterit of
the verb to owe. OE. oughte, aughte, ahte, AS. [=a]hte.
[root]110. See {Owe}.]
1. Was or were under obligation to pay; owed. [Obs.]
This due obedience which they ought to the king.
--Tyndale.
The love and duty I long have ought you. --Spelman.
[He] said . . . you ought him a thousand pound.
--Shak.
2. Owned; possessed. [Obs.]
The knight the which that castle ought. --Spenser.
3. To be bound in duty or by moral obligation.
We then that are strong ought to bear the
infirmities of the weak. --Rom. xv. 1.
4. To be necessary, fit, becoming, or expedient; to behoove;
-- in this sense formerly sometimes used impersonally or
without a subject expressed. ''Well ought us work.''
--Chaucer.
To speak of this as it ought, would ask a volume.
--Milton.
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things?
--Luke xxiv.
26.
Note: Ought is now chiefly employed as an auxiliary verb,
expressing fitness, expediency, propriety, moral
obligation, or the like, in the action or state
indicated by the principal verb.
Syn: {Ought}, {Should}.
Usage: Both words imply obligation, but ought is the
stronger. Should may imply merely an obligation of
propriety, expendiency, etc.; ought denotes an
obligation of duty.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Aught \Aught\, noun [OE. aught, ought, awiht, AS. [=a]wiht, [=a]
ever + wiht. [root]136. See {Aye} ever, and {Whit}, {Wight}.]
Anything; any part. [Also written {ought}.]
There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord
has spoken. --Josh. xxi.
45
But go, my son, and see if aught be wanting. --Addison.
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