ought

Definitions

1.simple past of owe(Obsolete)
- There was a certayne lender / which had two detters / the one ought five hondred pence / and the other fifty.

Frequency

Overall

Uncommon· #2073

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Uncommon
General reading & writing: Uncommon
Academic: Rare
Literature: Rare

Etymology

From Middle English oughte, aughte, aȝte, ahte, from Old English āhte, first and third person singular past tense of Old English āgan (“to own, possess”), equivalent to owe + -t.

Cognate with Sanskrit ईश्वर (īśvará, “capable of, liable”).