adj. & v.
--adj. (prec. by possessive)
1. a belonging to oneself or itself; not another's (saw it with my own eyes). b individual, peculiar, particular (a charm all of its own).
2 used to emphasize identity rather than possession (cooks his own meals).
3 (absol.) a private property (is it your own?). b kindred (among my own).
--v.
1. tr. have as property; possess.
2 a tr. confess; admit as valid, true, etc. (own their faults; owns he did not know). b intr. (foll. by to) confess to (owned to a prejudice).
3 tr. acknowledge paternity, authorship, or possession of.
Phrases and idioms:
come into one's own
1. receive one's due.
2 achieve recognition. get one's own back (often foll. by on) colloq. get revenge. hold one's own maintain one's position; not be defeated or lose strength. of one's own belonging to oneself alone.
on one's own
1. alone.
2 independently, without help. own brand (often attrib.) goods manufactured specially for a retailer and bearing the retailer's name.
own goal
1. a goal scored (usu. by mistake) against the scorer's own side.
2 an act or initiative that has the unintended effect of harming one's own interests. own up (often foll. by to) confess frankly.
Derivatives:
-owned adj. (in comb.).
Etymology: OE agen, agnian: see OWE