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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