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owe

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Owe is defined as to have a debt to pay or to feel the need to do something.

(verb)

An example to owe is to have a balance to pay on a credit card bill.
An example of to owe is wanting to send a thank you card to someone for a nice gift they gave you.

See owe in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb owed, owing

to have an obligation to pay; be indebted to the amount of
to have or feel the need to do, give, etc., as because of gratitude
to have or cherish (a certain feeling) toward another: now only in
to be indebted to someone for the existence of
Obsolete to own; have

Origin: ME owen < OE agan, to own, possess, have, akin to Goth aigan, OHG eigan < IE base *ēik-, to have as one's own, be capable (of) > Sans *īśē, (he) possesses

intransitive verb

to be in debt

See owe in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb owed owed, ow·ing, owes

verb, transitive

To be indebted to the amount of: He owes me five dollars.
To have a moral obligation to render or offer: I owe them an apology.
To be in debt to: We owe the plumber for services rendered.
To be indebted or obliged for: owed their riches to oil; owes her good health to diet and exercise.
To bear (a certain feeling) toward a person or persons: You seem to owe your neighbors a grudge.
Archaic To have as a possession; own.

verb, intransitive

To be in debt: She still owes for the car.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English owen

Origin: , from Old English āgan, to possess; see aik- in Indo-European roots

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