needs

[ needz ]

adverb

1. of necessity; necessarily (usually preceded or followed by must ):

   It must needs be so.

   It needs must be.

needs

/ niːdz /

adverb

1. preceded or foll by must of necessity

   we will go, if needs must

   we must needs go

plural noun

1. what is required; necessities

   his needs are modest

   the needs of the third world

Word History and Origins

Origin of needs¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English nedis, Old English nēdes, originally genitive of nēd need; -s ¹