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ought |
5 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Ought \Ought\ ([add]t), n. & adv See {Aught}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Owe \Owe\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Owed}, ({Ought}obs.); p. pr & vb n. {Owing}.] [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 ["a]ga, Goth. ['a]igan, Skr. ?. ????. 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 iwe the grocer for supplies, or a laborer for services. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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}.] 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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: ought v 1: expresses an emotional, practical, or other reason for doing something: "You had better put on warm clothes"; "You should call your mother-in-law"; "The State ought to repair the bridges" [syn: {should}, {had better}] 2: be logically necessary [syn: {should}, {must}, {need}]
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