Ought
/ɔːt/noun
Used to express duty, expectation, or probability.
Did you know?In Old English, *ought* was originally the past tense of *owe*, so the idea of obligation was literally tied to something being owed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁euh₃-
“to owe, be obliged”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*aiganą
“to possess, own”
Old English
OE
āgan
“to own, possess”
Old English
OE
āhte
“owned; had; was obliged to”
Middle English
ME
ought(e)
“owed; was obliged to; should”
Modern English
English
ought
“should; be expected or morally required to”