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ought

6 ENTRIES FOUND:

1ought

verbal auxiliary \ˈt\

Definition of OUGHT

—used to express obligation <ought to pay our debts>, advisability <ought to take care of yourself>, natural expectation <ought to be here by now>, or logical consequence <the result ought to be infinity>

Origin of OUGHT

Middle English oughte (1st & 3d singular present indicative), from oughte, 1st & 3d singular past indicative & subjunctive of owen to own, owe — more at owe
First Known Use: 12th century

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