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own definition

own (ōn)

adjective

  1. belonging, relating, or peculiar to oneself or itself: used to strengthen a preceding possessive his own book, her own idea
  2. Now Rare related by blood rather than by marriage

Etymology: ME owen < OE agen, pp. of agan, to possess: see owe

noun, pronoun

that which belongs to oneself the car is his own; I have reasons of my own

transitive verb

  1. to possess; hold as personal property; have
  2. to admit; recognize; acknowledge

intransitive verb

to confess (to)

Related Forms:

own Idioms

come into one's own

to receive what properly belongs to one, esp. acclaim or recognition

get one's own back

Chiefly Brit., Informal to get or take revenge; get even

of one's own

belonging strictly to oneself

on one's own

Informal
  1. by one's own efforts or on one's own initiative
  2. independent of help from others

own up (to)

to confess (to)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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