adj. Of or belonging to oneself or itself: She makes her own clothes. n. That which belongs to one: I wanted a room of my own. v. owned, own·ing, owns v.tr. 1. a. To have or possess as property: owns a chain of restaurants. b. To have control over: For a time, enemy planes owned the skies. 2. To admit as being in accordance with fact, truth, or a claim; acknowledge: "I own that I have been sly, thievish, mean, a prevaricator, greedy, derelict, / and I own that I remain so yet" (Walt Whitman). v.intr. Idiom: To make a full confession or acknowledgment: When confronted with the evidence the thief owned up to the crime. See Synonyms at acknowledge. on (one's) own 1. By one's own efforts: She got the job on her own. 2. Responsible for oneself; independent of outside help or control: He is now out of college and on his own. [Middle English owene, owne, from Old English āgen; see aik- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] owner n. |
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