To own something is to have it as your property, with the right to use it and control it.
From Old English *āgan* meaning “to possess, have,” which also gave us “ought.” The modern form “own” developed through a related adjective meaning “belonging to oneself.”
Owning isn’t just physical; you can own your mistakes, your choices, and your story. The idea of ownership is so strong in English that we even use it in slang—“He owned that performance”—to mean complete mastery.
Property ownership laws historically excluded or restricted women’s rights to own, inherit, or control property in many societies. Married women in particular were often legally prevented from owning property in their own name.
When discussing ownership, be aware of and, where relevant, mention historical exclusions from ownership rights based on gender.
["possess","have","hold title to"]
Acknowledge legal reforms and activism, much of it led by women, that expanded property and ownership rights to women and other marginalized groups.
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