Ought

(awt), v. imp., p. p., or auxiliary. [Originally the preterit tense of the verb to owe, A-S. âgan, to have or possess. It is used in all persons, both in the present and past tenses; as, I ought, thou oughtest, he ought, we, you, they ought; O. Eng. aughte, ahte, aughtest, aughte, aughten, A-S. âhte, âhtest, âhton. See OWE.

1Sense 1. To be under obligation to pay; — the same as OWED. [Obs.] This due obedience which they ought to the king. Tyndale. The love and duty I long have ought you. Spelman. That followed, sir, which to myself I ought. Dryden.

2Sense 2. Is fit; behooveth; is proper or necessary; should; — used impersonally. “Wel ought us worke.” Chaucer. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James iii. 10. To speak of this as it ought, would require a volume by itself. Milton.

3Sense 3. Own or possess. [Obs. and rare.] “The knight the which that castle ought.” Spenser.

¶ Ought is now chiefly employed as an auxiliary verb, expressing fitness, expediency, propriety, moral obligation, or the like, in the action or state indicated by the principal verb.

Synonyms— Should. — OUGHT, SHOULD. Both words imply obligation, but ought is the stronger. Should denotes an obligation of propriety, expediency, &c.; ought denotes an obligation of duty. We should be neat in our persons; we should avoid giving offense. We ought to speak truth; we ought to obey the laws.