needs

[needz]

adverb

1. of necessity; necessarily (usually preceded or followed bymust ).

   It must needs be so.

   It needs must be.

needs

/ niːdz /

adverb

1. (preceded or foll by must) of necessity

   we must needs go

   we will go, if needs must

plural noun

1. what is required; necessities

   the needs of the third world

   his needs are modest

Word History and Origins

Origin of needs¹

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