Owch, n. See Ouch. [Obs.] Speser.
Owe, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Owed, (Ought obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Owing ] [OE. owen, awen, aghen, to have, own, have (to do), hence, owe, AS. agan to have; akin to G. eigen, a., own, Icel. eiga to have, Dan. eie, Sw. äga, Goth. áigan, Skr… Cf. Ought, v. , 2d Own, Fraught.]
1. To possess; to have, as the rightful owner; to own. [Obs.]
"Thou dost here usurp
The name thou ow’st not." Shak.
2. To have or possess, as something derived or bestowed; to be obliged to ascribe (something to some source); to be indebted or obliged for; as he owed his wealth to his father; he owed his victory to his lieutenants. Milton.
"O deem thy fall not owed to man’s decree." Pope.
3. Hence: To have or be under an obigation to restore, pay, or render (something) in return or compensation for something received; to be indebted in the sum of; as the subject owes allegiance; the fortunate owe assistance to the unfortunate.
"The one ought five hundred pence, and the other fifty." Bible (1551).
"A son owes help and honor to his father." Holyday. Owe was sometimes followed by an objective clause introduced by the infinitive. "Ye owen to incline and bow your heart." Chaucer.
4. To have an obligation to (some one) on account of something done or received; to be indebted to; as to iwe the grocer for supplies, or a laborer for services.
Owel
Ow´el, a. [OF. oel, owel, iwel, ivel, F. egal, fr. L. aequalis.] (Law) Equal. [Obs.] Burrill.
Owen
Ow´en, a. [See Own.] Own. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Owher
O´wher, adv. [AS. ahwaer.] Anywhere. [Obs.] "If he found owher a good fellow." Chaucer.
Owing
Ow•ing, p. p. & a. [Used in a passive sense for owed (AS. agen. See Own).]
1. Had or held under obligation of paying; due.
"There is more owing her than is paid." Shak.
2. Had or experienced as a consequence, result, issue, etc.; ascribable; — with to; as misfortunes are often owing to vices; his failure was owing to speculations.
Owl, n. [AS. ule; akin to D. uil, OHG. uwila, G. eule, Icel. ugla, Sw. ugla, Dan. ugle.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any species of raptorial birds of the family Strigidae. They have large eyes and ears, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits. Some species have erectile tufts of feathers on the head. The feathers are soft and somewhat downy. The species are numerous. See Barn owl, Burrowing owl, Eared owl, Hawk owl, Horned owl, Screech owl, Snowy owl, under Barn, Burrowing, etc. In the Scriptures the owl is commonly associated with desolation; poets and story-tellers introduce it as a bird of ill omen… . The Greeks and Romans made it the emblem of wisdom, and sacred to Minerva, — and indeed its large head and solemn eyes give it an air of wisdom. Am. Cyc.
2. (Zoöl.) A variety of the domestic pigeon. Owl monkey (Zoöl.), any one of several species of South American nocturnal monkeys of the genus Nyctipithecus. They have very large eyes. Called also durukuli. — Owl moth (Zoöl.), a very large moth ( Erebus strix). The expanse of its wings is over ten inches. — Owl parrot (Zoöl.), the kakapo. — Sea owl (Zoöl.), the lumpfish. — Owl train, a cant name for certain railway trains whose run is in the nighttime.
Owl, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Owled p. pr. & vb. n. Owling.]
1. To pry about; to prowl. [Prov. Eng.]
2. To carry wool or sheep out of England. [Obs.] This was formerly illegal, and was done chiefly by night.
3. Hence, to carry on any contraband trade. [Eng.]
Owler
Owl´er, n. [From Owl, v. i.] One who owls; esp., one who conveys contraband goods. See Owling, n. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] T. Brown.
Owlery
Owl´er•y, n. ; pl. Owleries . An abode or a haunt of owls.
Owlet
Owl´et, n. [Dim. of owl. Cf. Howlet.] (Zoöl.) A small owl; especially, the European species ( Athene noctua), and the California flammulated owlet ( Megascops flammeolus). Owlet moth (Zoöl.), any noctuid moth.
Owling
Owl´ing, n. [From Owl, v. i.] (O. Eng. Law) The offense of transporting wool or sheep out of England contrary to the statute formerly existing. Blackstone.
Owllight
Owl´light, n. Glimmering or imperfect light. [R.] Bp. Warburton.
Own, a. [OE. owen, awen, auen, aughen, AS. agen, p. p. of agan to possess; akin to OS. egan, G. & D. eigen, Icel. eiginn, Sw. & Dan. egen. rad.110. See Owe.] Belonging to; belonging exclusively or especially to; peculiar; — most frequently following a possessive pronoun, as my, our, thy, your, his, her, its, their, in order to emphasize or intensify the idea of property, peculiar interest, or exclusive ownership; as my own father; my own composition; my own idea; at my own price. "No man was his own [ i. e., no man was master of himself, or in possession of his senses]." Shak. To hold one’s own, to keep or maintain one’s possessions; to yield nothing; esp., to suffer no loss or disadvantage in a contest. Shak.
Own, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Owned p. pr. & vb. n. Owning.] [OE. ohnien, ahnien, AS. agnian, fr. agen own, a. See Own, a. ] To hold as property; to have a legal or rightful title to; to be the proprietor or possessor of; to possess; as to own a house.
Owre, n. [AS. ur; akin to G. auerochs, OHG. ur, urohso, Icel. urr.] (Zoöl.) The aurochs. [Obs.] { Owse (ouz), Ow´ser (ou"zer), } n. Tanner’s ooze. See Ooze, 3.