Definition: ought

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

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]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Ought \Ought\ ([add]t), n. & adv.
   See Aught.

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.

Owe \Owe\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Owed, (Oughtobs.); 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.

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.