must needs
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must needs — see under ↑need • • • Main Entry: ↑must must needs or needs must (often ironic) Must inevitably • • • Main Entry: ↑need … Useful english dictionary
needs must (or must needs) — it is or was necessary or unavoidable. → need … English new terms dictionary
must needs do something — see needs … Useful english dictionary
needs must when the devil drives — Needs must is used elliptically for ‘one needs must (i.e. must of necessity) go’. c 1450 J. LYDGATE Assembly of Gods (EETS) 1. 21 Hit ys oft seyde by hem that yet lyues He must nedys go that the deuell dryues. 1602 SHAKESPEARE All’s Well that… … Proverbs new dictionary
Needs — Needs, adv. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. { wards}.] Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; often with must, and equivalent to of need. [1913 Webster] A man must needs love mauger his head. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] And he must… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
needs must — must needs or needs must (often ironic) Must inevitably • • • Main Entry: ↑need … Useful english dictionary
needs — [nēdz] adv. [ME nedes < OE nedes, nydes < nied (see NEED) + s, gen. & adv. suffix] of necessity; necessarily: with must [he must needs obey] … English World dictionary
must — [n] necessity, essential charge, commitment, committal, condition, devoir, duty, fundamental, imperative, necessary, need, obligation, ought, precondition, prerequisite, requirement, requisite, right, sine qua non; concepts 646,709 must [v] ought … New thesaurus
must — 1. v. & n. v.aux. (3rd sing. present must; past had to or in indirect speech must) (foll. by infin., or absol.) 1 a be obliged to (you must go to school; must we leave now?; said he must go; I must away). Usage: The negative (i.e. lack of… … Useful english dictionary
must — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. ought, should, had better, have [got] to, need, needs must, have no choice [but to]; be required, obliged, bound, compelled, doomed, destined, etc. See necessity. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. requirement,… … English dictionary for students
