needful

American  

[need-fuhl] / ˈnid fəl /

adjective

1. necessary or required.

   needful supplies.

2. needy.

---

idioms

1. the needful, money, especially immediately available cash.

   They haven't the needful for a car right now.

needful British  

/ ˈniːdfʊl /

adjective

1. necessary; needed; required

2. archaic needy; poverty-stricken

---

noun

1. informal money or funds

   do you have the needful?

2. to perform a necessary task

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• needfully
  adverb
• needfulness
  noun
• unneedful
  adjective
• unneedfully
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of needful

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at need, -ful