ought to

UK: ɔːt tə | US: ɔt tu

Definition

  1. modal v. used to indicate duty, advisability, or moral obligation

  2. modal v. used to express logical expectation or natural consequence

Structure
ought <owe, from Old English *āgan*>to <preposition/directional particle>
Etymology

"Ought" derives from Old English āgan ("to owe, possess"), evolving into Middle English oughte as a past tense form of "owe." Over time, it lost its literal possessive meaning and became a modal verb expressing obligation or necessity. The addition of "to" reinforces its directional/logical force, akin to "have to" or "need to." The phrase reflects a grammaticalization process where a concrete verb ("owe") transformed into an abstract auxiliary.

Examples

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