Ought

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ought \Ought\ ([add]t), n. & adv.
     See {Aught}.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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.]
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              This due obedience which they ought to the king.
                                                    --Tyndale.
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              The love and duty I long have ought you. --Spelman.
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              [He] said . . . you ought him a thousand pound.
                                                    --Shak.
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     2. Owned; possessed. [Obs.]
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              The knight the which that castle ought. --Spenser.
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     3. To be bound in duty or by moral obligation.
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              We then that are strong ought to bear the
              infirmities of the weak.              --Rom. xv. 1.
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     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.
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              To speak of this as it ought, would ask a volume.
                                                    --Milton.
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              Ought not Christ to have suffered these things?
                                                    --Luke xxiv.
                                                    26.
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     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.
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     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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Owe \Owe\ ([=o]), v. t. [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, a., own, Icel. eiga to
     have, Dan. eie, Sw. [aum]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.]
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              Thou dost here usurp
              The name thou ow'st not.              --Shak.
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     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.
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              O deem thy fall not owed to man's decree. --Pope.
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     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.
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              The one ought five hundred pence, and the other
              fifty.                                --Bible
                                                    (1551).
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              A son owes help and honor to his father. --Holyday.
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     Note: Owe was sometimes followed by an objective clause
           introduced by the infinitive. "Ye owen to incline and
           bow your heart." --Chaucer.
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     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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Aught \Aught\, n. [OE. aught, ought, awiht, AS. [=a]wiht, [=a]
     ever + wiht. [root]136. See {Aye} ever, and {Whit}, {Wight}.]
     Anything; any part. [Also written {ought}.]
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           There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord
           has spoken.                              --Josh. xxi.
                                                    45
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           But go, my son, and see if aught be wanting. --Addison.
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