own
[ ohn ]
/ oʊn /
adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to oneself or itself (usually used after a possessive to emphasize the idea of ownership, interest, or relation conveyed by the possessive): He spent only his own money.
(used as an intensifier to indicate oneself as the sole agent of some activity or action, preceded by a possessive): He insists on being his own doctor.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to confess (often followed by to, up, or up to): The one who did it had better own up. I own to being uncertain about that.
Idioms for own
Origin of own
before 900; (adj.) Middle English
owen, Old English
āgen (cognate with German
eigen, Old Norse
eigenn), orig. past participle of
āgan to possess (see
owe); (v.) Middle English
ownen, Old English
āgnian, āhnian, derivative of
āgen
OTHER WORDS FROM own
non·own·ing, adjective un·owned, adjectiveWords nearby own
British Dictionary definitions for hold one's own
own
/ (əʊn) /
determiner (preceded by a possessive)
verb
Word Origin for own
Old English
āgen, originally past participle of
āgan to have; related to Old Saxon
ēgan, Old Norse
eiginn. See
owe
Idioms and Phrases with hold one's own (1 of 2)
hold one's own
Do reasonably well despite opposition, competition, or criticism. For example, The team held its own against their opponents, or Rumors often hold their own against facts. [First half of 1300s]
Idioms and Phrases with hold one's own (2 of 2)
own