ought

OUGHT. [See Aught, the true orthography.] OUGHT, v. imperfect, aut. 1. To be held or bound in duty or moral obligation. These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23. We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. Romans 15:1. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers. Matthew 25:27. 2. To be necessary; to behoove. OUGHT not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into glory? Luke 24:26. 3. To be fit or expedient in a moral view. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3:10. 4. As a participle, owed; been indebted to. The love and duty I long have ought you. That followed, sir, which to myself I ought [In this sense, obsolete.] 5. In Chaucer's time, it was used impersonally. 'Wel ought us werke, ' that is, well it behooveth us to work.