Ought — Defs

01 n. & adv. See Aught.

1.
See Aught. See: Aught

02 imp., p. p., [or] auxiliary Was or were under obligation to pay; owed.

1.
Was or were under obligation to pay; owed.[Obs.]
“This due obedience which they ought to the king.” — Tyndale.

“The love and duty I long have ought you.” — Spelman.

“[He] said . . . you ought him a thousand pound.” — Shak.
2.
Owned; possessed.[Obs.]
“The knight the which that castle ought.” — Spenser.
3.
To be bound in duty or by moral obligation.
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.” — Rom. xv. 1.
4.
To be necessary, fit, becoming, or expedient; to behoove; -- in this sense formerly sometimes used impersonally or without a subject expressed.
“To speak of this as it ought, would ask a volume.” — Milton.

“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things?” — Luke xxiv. 26.

Syn. Ought, Should.

Both words imply obligation, but ought is the stronger. Should may imply merely an obligation of propriety, expendiency, etc.; ought denotes an obligation of duty.