Definition of OWE

owe

Meanings

Verb

  • be obliged to pay or repay
  • be indebted to, in an abstract or intellectual sense
    • "This new theory owes much to Einstein's Relativity Theory"
  • be in debt
    • "She owes me $200"
    • "I still owe for the car"
    • "The thesis owes much to his adviser"
  • To be under an obligation to give something back to someone or to perform some action for someone.
  • To have debt; to be in debt.
  • To have as a cause; used with to.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English owen, from Old English āgan, from Proto-West Germanic *aigan (“to own”), from Proto-Germanic *aiganą, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₂óyḱe (“to possess, own”), reduplicated stative of *h₂eyḱ- (“to own”). See also own, ought.
Cognate with Sanskrit ईष्टे (īṣṭe, “to own, possess”).

Scrabble Score: 6

owe is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
owe is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
owe is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 6

owe is a valid Words With Friends word