OWING, participle present tense [This is used in a passive form, contrary to analogy, for owen or owed. But the use is inveterately established.]

1. Due; that moral obligation requires to be paid; as the money owing to a laborer for services, or to another country for goods.

2. Consequential; ascribable to, as the cause. Misfortunes are often owing to vices or miscalculations.

3. Imputable to as an agent. His recovery from sickness is owing less to his physician, than to the strength of his constitution.

OWL, noun [Latin ulula, ululo.]

A fowl of the genus Strix, that flies chiefly in the night.

OWL'ER, noun One that conveys contraband goods.

OWL'ET, noun An owl, which see.

OWL'ING, noun The offense of transporting wool or sheep out of England, contrary to the statute.

[This explanation of owling favors the derivation of the word from wool.]

OWL'-LIGHT, noun Glimmering or imperfect light.

OWL'-LIKE, adjective Like an owl in look and habits.

OWN, adjective [See Owe and Ought.]

1. Belonging to; possessed; peculiar; usually expressing property with emphasis, or in express exclusion of others. It follows my, your, his, their, thy, her. God created man in his own image. Adam begat a son in his own likeness. Let them fall by their own counsel. He washed us from our sins in his own blood.

In the phrases, his own nations, his own country, the word own denotes that the person belongs to the nation or country.

2. own often follows a verb; as, the book is not my own that is, my own book.

3. It is used as a substitute.

That they may dwell in a place of their own 2 Samuel 7:10.

In this use, a noun cannot follow own

4. 'He came to his own and his own received him not, ' that is, his own nation or people; own being here used as a substitute, like many other adjectives.

OWN, verb transitive [from the adjective.]

1. To have the legal or rightful title to; to have the exclusive right of possession and use. A free holder in the United states owns his farm. Men often own land or goods which are not in their possession.

2. To have the legal right to, without the exclusive right to use; as, a man owns the land in front of his farm to the middle of the highway.

3. To acknowledge to belong to; to avow or admit that the property belongs to.

When you come, find me out and own me for your son.

4. To avow; to confess, as a fault, crime or other act; that is, to acknowledge that one has done the act; as, to own the faults of youth; to own our guilt. The man is charged with theft, but he has not owned it.

5. In general, to acknowledge; to confess; to avow; to admit to be true; not to deny; as, to own our weakness and frailty.

Many own the gospel of salvation more from custom than conviction.

OWNED, participle passive

1. The legal title being vested in; as, the property is owned by a company.

2. Acknowledged; avowed; confessed.

OWNER, noun The rightful proprietor; one who has the legal or rightful title, whether he is the possessor or not.

The ox knoweth his owner Isaiah 1:3.

The centurion believed the master and owner of the ship. Acts 27:11.

OWNERSHIP, noun Property; exclusive right of possession; legal or just claim or title. The ownership of the estate is in A; the possession is in B.

OWNING, participle present tense

1. Having the legal or just title to.

2. Acknowledging; avowing; confessing.

OWRE, noun [Latin urus.] A beast. [Not used.]

OWSE, noun Bark of oak beaten or ground to small pieces.

OW'SER, noun Bark and water mixed in a tan-pit.