Own (ōn), v. t. [OE. unnen
to grant, permit, be pleased with, AS. unnan to grant; akin to
OS. giunnan, G. gönnen, Icel. unna; of
uncertain origin. This word has been confused with own to
possess.] To grant; to acknowledge; to admit to be true; to
confess; to recognize in a particular character; as, we own
that we have forfeited your love.
The wakeful bloodhound rose, and shook his hide;
But his sagacious eye an inmate owns.
Keats.Own, a. [OE. owen, awen,
auen, aughen, AS. āgen, p. p. of
āgan to possess; akin to OS. ēgan, G. & D.
eigen, Icel. eiginn, Sw. & Dan. egen.
√110. See Owe.] Belonging to; belonging
exclusively or especially to; peculiar; -- most frequently following
a possessive pronoun, as my, our, thy,
your, his, her, its, their, in
order to emphasize or intensify the idea of property, peculiar
interest, or exclusive ownership; as, my own father; my
own composition; my own idea; at my own
price. "No man was his own [i. e., no man was
master of himself, or in possession of his senses]."
Shak.
To hold one's own, to keep or maintain one's
possessions; to yield nothing; esp., to suffer no loss or
disadvantage in a contest. Shak.
Own, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Owned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Owning.] [OE. ohnien, ahnien, AS.
āgnian, fr. āgen own, a.
See Own, a.] To hold as property; to
have a legal or rightful title to; to be the proprietor or possessor
of; to possess; as, to own a house.