To have a debt or obligation to pay someone money or to show gratitude, or because of something being the cause.
From Old English 'agan' meaning 'to have' or 'to possess,' evolved into Middle English 'owe,' becoming 'owing' as a present participle describing ongoing obligation.
The word 'owing' connects obligation and causation in a deep way—'owing to the rain' means rain caused something, but 'owing money' means you have a debt, both describing something you can't ignore or escape!
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