Owning nothing paid for? (8)
I believe the answer is:
allowing
'owning' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with ownership as well as being present participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for allowing that I've seen before include "Permitting or conceding" , "not stopping" , "Granting, permitting" , "Admitting" , "Giving permission" .)