OWING • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Owing

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/ˈoʊɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Owe v. t. (past & past part. owed, obs. ought; pres. part. owing)

1.

To possess; to have, as the rightful owner; to own. (Obs.) "Thou dost here usurp The name thou ow'st not."

2.

To have or possess, as something derived or bestowed; to be obliged to ascribe (something to some source); to be indebted or obliged for; as, he owed his wealth to his father; he owed his victory to his lieutenants. "O deem thy fall not owed to man's decree."

3.

Hence: To have or be under an obigation to restore, pay, or render (something) in return or compensation for something received; to be indebted in the sum of; as, the subject owes allegiance; the fortunate owe assistance to the unfortunate. "The one ought five hundred pence, and the other fifty." "A son owes help and honor to his father." Note: Owe was sometimes followed by an objective clause introduced by the infinitive. "Ye owen to incline and bow your heart."

4.

To have an obligation to (some one) on account of something done or received; to be indebted to; as, to owe the grocer for supplies, or a laborer for services.

Owing past part., adj.

1.

Had or held under obligation of paying; due. "There is more owing her than is paid."

2.

Had or experienced as a consequence, result, issue, etc.; ascribable; with to; as, misfortunes are often owing to vices; his failure was owing to speculations.

See images of 'Owing'

Etymology of 'Owing'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Owing" Quotes from Famous Books

... received the reporters of local papers in pathetic audience there, which counteracted the effect of the astounding statements the stars made in letters to the editor, and yet gave the public clearly to understand that owing to its coldness and neglect a number of ladies and gentlemen of very superior talents were subsisting in their midst mainly upon brinjals and soda-water. "I'm in hospital," Mr. Stanhope would say to the reporters, "and I'm d—— glad of it,"—he always insisted ...

— The Path of a Star • Mrs. Everard Cotes (AKA Sara Jeannette Duncan)

... Whether owing to the inevitable visitations of the great disturber of affairs in the Garden of Eden, or only in the due course of that developement which affects communities as well as species, we know not, but certain it is that suddenly the ...

— Romance of California Life • John Habberton

... assemblies, each bent on checking the policy of the other, and bringing the government of the country to a deadlock. On one side, the interests of the English were identified with the Legislative Council, a body appointed by the King for life, and owing no responsibility to the suffrages of the people; while, on the other, a French majority ruled in the popular assembly, whose authority, powerful in influence, impotent in administration, controlled neither ...

— Old Quebec - The Fortress of New France • Sir Gilbert Parker and Claude Glennon Bryan

... Edward gave him a large farm, rent free; and in a few years Humphrey saved up sufficient to purchase a property for himself. He then married Clara Ratcliffe, who has not appeared lately on the scene, owing to her having been, about two years before the Restoration, claimed by an elderly relation, who lived in the country, and whose infirm state of health did not permit him to quit the house. He left his property to Clara, about a year after her marriage to Humphrey. ...

— The Children of the New Forest • Captain Marryat

... perhaps owing to the disturbing influence of the wind, of a dirty-white colour, but it is very good and sweet, though not so pleasant to my taste as the very clear Tanganyika water. The natives, however, who have wonderfully keen palates for detecting the relative distinctions in such matters, differ ...

— What Led To The Discovery of the Source Of The Nile • John Hanning Speke

Copyright © 2025 e-Free Translation.com