ought

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A person who's done as good work as you in English ought to have the right to flunk every other blessed thing, if she wants to But you're dropped if you flunk eight hours; you told me so yourself Don't believe anything I told you," said Patty, reassuringly.

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Definitions (20)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (8)

  1. auxiliary verb Used to indicate obligation or duty: You ought to work harder than that.
  2. auxiliary verb Used to indicate advisability or prudence: You ought to wear a raincoat.
  3. auxiliary verb Used to indicate desirability: You ought to have been there; it was great fun.

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Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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This word has been looked up 204 times.

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Etymologies (4)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English oughten, to be obliged to, from oughte, owned, from Old English āhte, past tense of āgan, to possess; see aik- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (3)

  1. from Middle English ought, oughte, ouhte, aught, aughte, auʒte, ahte, aʒte, from Anglo-Saxon āhte, preterit of āgan (present āh), owe, have: see owe.
  2. See aught.
  3. A corruption of nought, naught.
 

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/ɔt/
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