necessity Hear it!

necessity definition

ne·ces·sity (-tē)

noun pl. necessities -·ties

  1. the power of natural law that cannot be other than it is; natural causation; physical compulsion placed on man by nature; fate
  2. anything that is inevitable, unavoidable, etc. as a result of natural law; that which is necessary in natural sequence
    1. the compulsion or constraint of man-made circumstances, habit, custom, law, etc.; logical or moral conditions making certain actions inevitable or obligatory faced by the necessity to earn a living
    2. what is required by this social or legal compulsion
  4. great or imperative need
  5. something that cannot be done without; necessary thing: often used in pl.
  6. the state or quality of being necessary
  7. want; poverty

Etymology: ME necessite < OFr nécessité < L necessitas < necesse: see necessary

necessity Idioms

of necessity

necessarily; inevitably

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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