ought

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   simple past of owe

   There was a certayne lender / which had two detters / the one ought five hondred pence / and the other fifty.

2. 2
   verb

   Indicating duty or obligation.

   I ought to vote in the coming election.

3. 3
   verb

   Indicating advisability or prudence.

   You ought to always stand back from the edge of the platform.

4. 4
   verb

   Indicating desirability.

   He ought to read the book; it was very good.

5. 5
   verb

   Indicating likelihood or probability.

   We ought to arrive by noon if we take the motorway, shouldn't we?

6. 6
   pron

   Alternative spelling of aught; anything

   Is it a small benefit, that I am placed there […] where I see no drunken comessations, no rebellious routs, no violent oppressions, no obscene rejoicings, nor ought else that might either vex or affright my soul?

7. 7
   noun

   A statement of what ought to be the case as contrasted with what is the case.

   There are value judgments that are not reducible to observable matters of fact, and there are oughts that cannot be construed as hypothetical and, therefore, cannot be converted into statements of fact.

8. 8
   noun

   Alternative spelling of aught; cipher, zero, nought.

   I go back at eight o'clock to-morrow morning, and have got only three—three oughts an ought—three twos six—sixty pound.

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”).