1. To be indebted to the amount of: He owes me five dollars.2. To have a moral obligation to render or offer: I owe them an apology.3. To be in debt to: We owe the plumber for services rendered.4. To be indebted or obliged for: owed their riches to oil; owes her good health to diet and exercise.5. To bear (a certain feeling) toward a person or persons: You seem to owe your neighbors a grudge.6.Archaic To have as a possession; own.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
To be in debt: She still owes for the car.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English owen, from Old English gan, to possess. See aik- in Appendix I.
gan, to possess. See aik- in Appendix I.
