OWING • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Owing

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/ˈoʊɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Owe v. t. (past & past part. owed, obs. ought; pres. part. owing)

1.

To possess; to have, as the rightful owner; to own. (Obs.) "Thou dost here usurp The name thou ow'st not."

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. "O deem thy fall not owed to man's decree."

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." "A son owes help and honor to his father." Note: Owe was sometimes followed by an objective clause introduced by the infinitive. "Ye owen to incline and bow your heart."

4.

To have an obligation to (some one) on account of something done or received; to be indebted to; as, to owe the grocer for supplies, or a laborer for services.

Owing past part., adj.

1.

Had or held under obligation of paying; due. "There is more owing her than is paid."

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.

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Etymology of 'Owing'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Owing" Quotes from Famous Books

... present arise from the condition of the inheritance, which is no doubt heavily burdened, both owing to the melancholy and sudden death of the late Prince, and by the state of the times, which renders it equally just and indispensable to husband carefully all possible resources. On this account it is far from my wish to claim more than is absolutely necessary ...

— Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 1 of 2 • Lady Wallace

... roasted in the ashes, then scraped, and served up at meals instead of bread. They breed abundance of swine, as they supply both Chili and Peru with hams. They are in no want of sheep, but are not overstocked with cows, owing, in a great measure, to their own indolence in not clearing away the woods, which if they would be at the pains to do, they might have sufficient pasture. Their trade consists in hams, hogs-lard, which is used throughout all South America instead of butter; cedar-plank, which the Indians ...

— A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17 • Robert Kerr

... the little man, deigning no reply to this polite inquiry. "I am the King of what you mortals call the Golden River. The shape you saw me in was owing to the malice of a stronger king, from whose enchantments you have this instant freed me. What I have seen of you, and your conduct to your wicked brothers, renders me willing to serve you; therefore attend to what I tell you. Whoever shall climb to the top of that mountain from which ...

— Stories of Childhood • Various

... Owing to the small explosion which occurs with these shells, they are liable to be mistaken for blinds, and even when the gas is smelt men may not realize its possibly dangerous character at once and so may delay putting on respirators or helmets ...

— Military Instructors Manual • James P. Cole and Oliver Schoonmaker

... later, owing to the fact that the latter, being preoccupied, did not see him first, Bruce Carmyle met his cousin Lancelot in Piccadilly. They had returned by different routes from Roville, and Ginger would have preferred the separation to continue. He was ...

— The Adventures of Sally • P. G. Wodehouse

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