ought

adv

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”).

1. Alternative spelling of aught; at all, to any degree.

noun

1. 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.”

pron

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”).

1. 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?”

verb

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”).

1. Indicating duty or obligation.

   “I ought to vote in the coming election.”

2. Indicating advisability or prudence.

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

   “Do you think we ought to leave now?”

3. Indicating desirability.

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

4. Indicating likelihood or probability.

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

   “My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.”