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Thank Your Babushka For These 8 Russian Loanwords In EnglishWhat comes to mind when we say Russia? For students of history, it might be Peter the Great. For literature lovers, it might be Dostoevsky. Political scientists might cite the Cold War. But, for word nerds, it's the many words English owes to Russian.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
owens, jesse, owensboro, ower, owerri, owi, owing, owl, owl butterfly, owl monkey, owl's claws, owl's clover
Idioms
owing to, because of; as a result of: Owing to a mistake in the payroll department, some of us were issued incorrect checks.
Related forms
un·ow·ing, adjectiveDefinition for owing (2 of 2)
owe
[ oh ]
/ oʊ /
verb (used with object), owed, ow·ing.
to be under obligation to pay or repay: to owe money to the bank; to owe the bank interest on a mortgage.
to be in debt to: He says he doesn't owe anybody.
to be indebted (to) as the cause or source of: to owe one's fame to good fortune.
to have or bear (a feeling or attitude) toward someone or something: to owe gratitude to one's rescuers.
Obsolete. to possess; own.
verb (used without object), owed, ow·ing.
to be in debt: Neither lend nor owe. Who owes for the antipasto?
Origin of owe
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for owing
British Dictionary definitions for owing (1 of 2)
owing
/ (ˈəʊɪŋ) /
adjective
(postpositive) owed; due
owing to (preposition) because of or on account of
British Dictionary definitions for owing (2 of 2)
owe
/ (əʊ) /
verb (mainly tr)
to be under an obligation to pay (someone) to the amount of
(intr) to be in debthe still owes for his house
(often foll by to) to have as a result (of)he owes his success to chance
to feel the need or obligation to do, give, etcto owe somebody thanks; to owe it to oneself to rest
to hold or maintain in the mind or heart (esp in the phrase owe a grudge)
Word Origin for owe
Old English āgan to have (C12: to have to); related to Old Saxon ēgan, Old High German eigan
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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