aught

aught · pronoun, adverb, noun¹

1. Old English · inherited fromāht
2. Middle English · inherited fromaught
3. English todayaught

From Middle English aught, ought, from Old English āht, āwiht, from ā (“always", "ever”) + wiht (“thing", "creature”). More at wight.

aught · noun²

Rebracketing of a naught.

aught · noun³

1. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*ahtu
2. Old English · inherited fromǣht“estimation, consideration”
3. Middle English · inherited fromaught“estimation, regard, reputation”
4. English todayaught

From Middle English aught (“estimation, regard, reputation”), from Old English ǣht (“estimation, consideration”), from Proto-West Germanic *ahtu. Cognate with Dutch acht (“attention, regard, heed”), German Acht (“attention, regard”). Also see ettle.

aught · verb⁴

Originally the past tense of owe.

aught · numeral⁵

1. Old English · inherited fromeahta“eight”
2. Middle English · inherited fromahte
3. English todayaught

From Middle English ahte, from Old English eahta (“eight”). More at eight.

Words from the same roots