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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

buy the rights en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To acquire the legal rights to a work, property, story, or intellectual creation, especially for purposes such as publication, adaptation, or distribution.
    • The studio decided to buy the rights to the novel before any competitors could bid.
  2. (informal) Used as a rebuke to someone seeking information for free.
    • Jumped into the Chevy, headed for big lights Wanna know the rest? Hey, buy the rights. 1995, OMC, "How Bizarre"

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
buying the rights Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
buys the rights Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
bought the rights Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
bought the rights Tense=Past lexicographic