Owe
WordNet
verb
(1) Be in debt
"She owes me $200"
"The thesis owes much to his adviser"
(2) Be obliged to pay or repay
(3) Be indebted to, in an abstract or intellectual sense
"This new theory owes much to Einstein's Relativity Theory"
WiktionaryText
Verb
- To be under an obligation to give something back to someone or to perform some action for someone.
- To have debt, to be in debt.
Usage notes
- The original past tense form was ought, which during Middle English began to be used with indefinite signification and has become a distinct verb. The original past participle has become the adjective own.