Word Study
owe
CIDE DICTIONARY
owe, v. t. [OE. owen, awen, aghen, to have, own, have (to do), hence, owe, AS. āgan to have; akin to G. eigen, a., own, Icel. eiga to have, Dan. eie, Sw. äga, Goth. áigan, Skr. . Ought, v. , 2d Own, Fraught.].
- To possess; to have, as the rightful owner; to own. [1913 Webster]"Thou dost here usurp
The name thou ow'st not." [1913 Webster] - 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. [1913 Webster]"O deem thy fall not owed to man's decree." [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]" Owe was sometimes followed by an objective clause introduced by the infinitive. “Ye owen to incline and bow your heart.”" Chaucer. [1913 Webster]"The one ought five hundred pence, and the other fifty." [1913 Webster]"A son owes help and honor to his father." [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
owe, v.tr.
1 a be under obligation (to a person etc.) to pay or repay (money etc.) (we owe you five pounds; owe more than I can pay). b (absol., usu. foll. by for) be in debt (still owe for my car).
2 (often foll. by to) render (gratitude etc., a person honour, gratitude, etc.) (owe grateful thanks to).
3 (usu. foll. by to) be indebted to a person or thing for (we owe to Newton the principle of gravitation).
1 a be under obligation (to a person etc.) to pay or repay (money etc.) (we owe you five pounds; owe more than I can pay). b (absol., usu. foll. by for) be in debt (still owe for my car).
2 (often foll. by to) render (gratitude etc., a person honour, gratitude, etc.) (owe grateful thanks to).
3 (usu. foll. by to) be indebted to a person or thing for (we owe to Newton the principle of gravitation).
Idiom
owe a person a grudge cherish resentment against a person. owe it to oneself (often foll. by to + infin.) need (to do) something to protect one's own interests.
Etymology
OE agan (see OUGHT(1)) f. Gmc
DEVIL DICTIONARY
owe
v. To have (and to hold) a debt. The word formerly signified not indebtedness, but possession; it meant "own," and in the minds of debtors there is still a good deal of confusion between assets and liabilities.ROGET THESAURUS
owe
Debt
VB be in debt, owe, incur a debt, contract a debt, run up a bill, run up a score, run up an account, go on tick, borrow, run into debt, get into debt, outrun the constable, run up debts, run up bills (spend), answer for, go bail for, bill, charge.For further exploring for "owe" in Webster Dictionary Online
